User input passive device for use with an interactive display device

ABSTRACT

A user input passive device for interaction with a touchscreen of an interactive display device includes a housing including: a conductive shell and a non-conductive supporting surface coupled to the conductive shell. The user input further includes an impedance circuit having a desired impedance at a desired frequency, a first conductive plate mounted on the non-conductive supporting surface, electrically isolated from the conductive shell, and a second conductive plate mounted on the non-conductive supporting surface, electrically isolated from the conductive shell and the first conductive plate. The first terminal of the impedance circuit is coupled to the first conductive plate and a second terminal of the impedance circuit is coupled to the second conductive plate. When the user input passive device is used with the touchscreen, a perimeter of the conductive shell, and the first and second conductive plates are in close proximity to an interactive surface of the touchscreen.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates to computer systems and more particularly tointeraction with a touch screen of a computing device.

Description of Related Art

Computers include user interfaces to receive data from a user and tooutput data to a user. A common user interface is a graphical userinterface (GUI) that provides images, or icons, for various types ofdata input (e.g., select a file, edit a word, type a character, draw apicture, look at a photo, format a document, etc.). In an example, theuser selects an icon by manipulating a mouse to align a cursor with anicon and then “selects” the icon. In another example, the user selectsan icon by touching a touch screen interface with the user's finger orwith a user input device. User input devices may be passive or active.Active devices provide power gain to a circuit whereas passive devicesdo not provide power gain to a circuit and do not transmit stimulussignals. For example, a traditional capacitive pen is a user inputpassive device made of conductive material, contains no battery, andinteracts with a touch screen in the same manner as a user's finger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an interactivedisplay device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the interactivedisplay device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 4A-4B are schematic block diagrams of embodiments of a touchscreen electrode pattern in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a touch screensystem in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 6A-6B are schematic block diagrams of embodiments of a touchscreen system in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 7A-7B are schematic block diagrams of examples of capacitance of atouch screen with no contact with a user passive device in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an example of capacitance of atouch screen system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of another example of capacitance ofthe touch screen system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of another example of capacitanceof the touch screen system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of another example of capacitanceof the touch screen system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic block diagram of an example of capacitance of atouch screen with no contact with a user passive device in accordancewith the present invention;

FIGS. 13A-13B are schematic block diagrams of examples of capacitance ofa touch screen system in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 14A-14B are schematic block diagrams of examples of capacitance ofa touch screen system in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 15A-15F are schematic block diagrams of examples of an impedancecircuit in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 16A-16B are schematic block diagrams of examples of mutualcapacitance changes to electrodes with a parallel tank circuit as theimpedance circuit in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 17A-17B are schematic block diagrams of examples of mutualcapacitance changes to electrodes with a series tank circuit as theimpedance circuit in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 18A-18B are examples of detecting mutual capacitance change inaccordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 19A-19B are examples of detecting capacitance change in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the touchscreen system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a mutualcapacitance change gradient in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a schematic block diagram of another example of a mutualcapacitance change gradient in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the touchscreen system in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a schematic block diagram of another example of a mutualcapacitance change gradient in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a schematic block diagram of an example of determiningrelative impedance in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a schematic block diagram of an example of capacitance of atouch screen in contact with a user input passive device in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 27 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the user inputpassive device interacting with the touch screen in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 27A is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the userinput passive device interacting with the touch screen in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 28 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the userinput passive device interacting with the touch screen in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 29 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the userinput passive device interacting with the touch screen in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 30 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the userinput passive device interacting with the touch screen in accordancewith the present invention;

FIGS. 31A-31G are schematic block diagrams of examples of a user inputpassive device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 32 is a logic diagram of an example of a method for interpretinguser input from the user input passive device in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 33 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 34A-34B are schematic block diagrams of examples of digital padgeneration on a touch screen in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 35 is a logic diagram of an example of a method for generating adigital pad on an interactive surface of an interactive display devicefor interaction with a user input passive device in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 36 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 37A-37D are schematic block diagrams of examples of adjusting apersonalized display area in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 38 is a logic diagram of an example of a method of adjusting apersonalized display area based on detected obstructing objects inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 39 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 40 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 41 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 42 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 43A-43E are schematic block diagrams of examples of adjusting apersonalized display area in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 44 is a logic diagram of an example of a method of adjusting apersonalized display area based on a three-dimensional shape of anobject in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 45 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 46 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 47 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 48 is a logic diagram of an example of a method of generating apersonalized display area in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an interactivedisplay device 10 having a touch screen 12, which may further include apersonalized display area 18 to form an interactive touch screen display(also referred to herein as an interactive surface). Personalizeddisplay area 18 may extend to all of touch screen 12 or a portion asshown. Further, touch screen 12 may include multiple personalizeddisplay areas 18 (e.g., for multiple users, functions, etc.). Theinteractive display device 10, which will be discussed in greater detailwith reference to one or more of FIGS. 2-3, may be a portable computingdevice and/or a fixed computing device. A portable computing device maybe a social networking device, a gaming device, a cell phone, a smartphone, a digital assistant, a digital music player, a digital videoplayer, a laptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet, a video gamecontroller, and/or any other portable device that includes a computingcore.

A fixed computing device may be a computer (PC), an interactive whiteboard, an interactive table top, an interactive desktop, an interactivedisplay, a computer server, a cable set-top box, vending machine, anAutomated Teller Machine (ATM), an automobile, a satellite receiver, atelevision set, a printer, a fax machine, home entertainment equipment,a video game console, and/or any type of home or office computingequipment. An interactive display functions to provide users with aninteractive experience (e.g., touch the screen to obtain information, beentertained, etc.). For example, a store provides interactive displaysfor customers to find certain products, to obtain coupons, to entercontests, etc.

Here, the interactive display device 10 is implemented as an interactivetable top. An interactive table top is an interactive display device 10that has a touch screen display for interaction with users but alsofunctions as a usable table top surface. For example, the interactivedisplay device 10 may include one or more of a coffee table, a diningtable, a bar, a desk, a conference table, an end table, a night stand, acocktail table, a podium, and a product display table.

As an interactive table top, the interactive display device 10 hasinteractive functionality and well as non-interactive functionality. Forexample, interactive objects 14 (e.g., a finger, a user input passivedevice, a user input active device, a pen, tagged objects, etc.)interact with the touch screen 12 to communicate data with interactivedisplay device 10. A user input passive device for interaction with theinteractive display device 10 will be discussed in greater detail withreference to one or more of FIGS. 5-32.

Additionally, non-interactive objects 16 (e.g., a coffee mug, books,magazines, a briefcase, an elbow, etc.) may also be placed on theinteractive display device 10 that are not intended to communicate datawith the interactive display device 10. The interactive display device10 is able to recognize objects, distinguish between interactive andnon-interactive objects, and adjust the personalized display area 18accordingly. For example, if a coffee mug is placed in the center of thepersonalized display area 18, the interactive display device 10recognizes the object, recognizes that it is a non-interactive object 16and shifts the personalized display over such that the coffee mug is nolonger obstructed the user's view of the personalized display area 18.Detecting objects on the interactive display device 10 and adjustingpersonalized displays accordingly will be discussed in greater detailwith reference to one or more of FIGS. 36-44.

Further, the interactive display device 10 supports interactions frommultiple users having differing orientations around the table top. Forexample, the interactive display device 10 is a dining table where eachuser's presence around the table triggers personalized display areas 18with correct orientation (e.g., a sinusoidal signal is generated when auser sits in a chair at the table and the signal is communicated to theinteractive display device 10, the user is using/wearing a unique devicehaving a particular frequency detected by the interactive display device10, etc.). As another example, the use of a game piece triggersinitiation of a game and the correct personalized display areas 18 aregenerated in accordance with the game (e.g., detection of an air hockeypuck and/or striker segments the display area into a player 1 displayzone and a player 2 display zone). Generation of personalized displayareas 18 will be discussed in greater detail with reference to one ormore of FIGS. 45-48.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an interactivedisplay device 10 that includes a core control module 40, one or moreprocessing modules 42, one or more main memories 44, cache memory 46, avideo graphics processing module 48, a display 50, an Input-Output (I/O)peripheral control module 52, one or more input interface modules, oneor more output interface modules, one or more network interface modules60, and one or more memory interface modules 62. A processing module 42is described in greater detail at the end of the detailed description ofthe invention section and, in an alternative embodiment, has a directionconnection to the main memory 44. In an alternate embodiment, the corecontrol module 40 and the I/O and/or peripheral control module 52 areone module, such as a chipset, a quick path interconnect (QPI), and/oran ultra-path interconnect (UPI).

Each of the main memories 44 includes one or more Random Access Memory(RAM) integrated circuits, or chips. For example, a main memory 44includes four DDR4 (4^(th) generation of double data rate) RAM chips,each running at a rate of 2,400 MHz. In general, the main memory 44stores data and operational instructions most relevant for theprocessing module 42. For example, the core control module 40coordinates the transfer of data and/or operational instructions fromthe main memory 44 and the memory 64-66. The data and/or operationalinstructions retrieve from memory 64-66 are the data and/or operationalinstructions requested by the processing module or will most likely beneeded by the processing module. When the processing module is done withthe data and/or operational instructions in main memory, the corecontrol module 40 coordinates sending updated data to the memory 64-66for storage.

The memory 64-66 includes one or more hard drives, one or more solidstate memory chips, and/or one or more other large capacity storagedevices that, in comparison to cache memory and main memory devices,is/are relatively inexpensive with respect to cost per amount of datastored. The memory 64-66 is coupled to the core control module 40 viathe I/O and/or peripheral control module 52 and via one or more memoryinterface modules 62. In an embodiment, the I/O and/or peripheralcontrol module 52 includes one or more Peripheral Component Interface(PCI) buses to which peripheral components connect to the core controlmodule 40. A memory interface module 62 includes a software driver and ahardware connector for coupling a memory device to the I/O and/orperipheral control module 52. For example, a memory interface 62 is inaccordance with a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) port.

The core control module 40 coordinates data communications between theprocessing module(s) 42 and a network, or networks, via the I/O and/orperipheral control module 52, the network interface module(s) 60, and anetwork card 68 or 70. A network card 68 or 70 includes a wirelesscommunication unit or a wired communication unit. A wirelesscommunication unit includes a wireless local area network (WLAN)communication device, a cellular communication device, a Bluetoothdevice, and/or a ZigBee communication device. A wired communication unitincludes a Gigabit LAN connection, a Firewire connection, and/or aproprietary computer wired connection. A network interface module 60includes a software driver and a hardware connector for coupling thenetwork card to the I/O and/or peripheral control module 52. Forexample, the network interface module 60 is in accordance with one ormore versions of IEEE 802.11, cellular telephone protocols, 10/100/1000Gigabit LAN protocols, etc.

The core control module 40 coordinates data communications between theprocessing module(s) 42 and input device(s) via the input interfacemodule(s) and the I/O and/or peripheral control module 52. An inputdevice includes a keypad, a keyboard, control switches, a touchpad, amicrophone, a camera, etc. An input interface module includes a softwaredriver and a hardware connector for coupling an input device to the I/Oand/or peripheral control module 52. In an embodiment, an inputinterface module is in accordance with one or more Universal Serial Bus(USB) protocols.

The core control module 40 coordinates data communications between theprocessing module(s) 42 and output device(s) via the output interfacemodule(s) and the I/O and/or peripheral control module 52. An outputdevice includes a speaker, etc. An output interface module includes asoftware driver and a hardware connector for coupling an output deviceto the I/O and/or peripheral control module 52. In an embodiment, anoutput interface module is in accordance with one or more audio codecprotocols.

The processing module 42 communicates directly with a video graphicsprocessing module 48 to display data on the display 50. The display 50includes an LED (light emitting diode) display, an LCD (liquid crystaldisplay), and/or other type of display technology. The display has aresolution, an aspect ratio, and other features that affect the qualityof the display. The video graphics processing module 48 receives datafrom the processing module 42, processes the data to produce rendereddata in accordance with the characteristics of the display, and providesthe rendered data to the display 50.

The display 50 includes the touch screen 12 (e.g., and personalizeddisplay area 18), a plurality of drive-sense circuits (DSC), and a touchscreen processing module 82. The touch screen 12 includes a plurality ofsensors (e.g., electrodes, capacitor sensing cells, capacitor sensors,inductive sensor, etc.) to detect a proximal touch of the screen. Forexample, when a finger or pen touches the screen, capacitance of sensorsproximal to the touch(es) are affected (e.g., impedance changes). Thedrive-sense circuits (DSC) coupled to the affected sensors detect thechange and provide a representation of the change to the touch screenprocessing module 82, which may be a separate processing module orintegrated into the processing module 42.

The touch screen processing module 82 processes the representativesignals from the drive-sense circuits (DSC) to determine the location ofthe touch(es). This information is inputted to the processing module 42for processing as an input. For example, a touch represents a selectionof a button on screen, a scroll function, a zoom in-out function, etc.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of aninteractive display device 10 that includes the touch screen 12, thedrive-sense circuits (DSC), the touch screen processing module 81, adisplay 83, electrodes 85, the processing module 42, the video graphicsprocessing module 48, and a display interface 93. The display 83 may bea small screen display (e.g., for portable computing devices) or a largescreen display (e.g., for fixed computing devices). In general, a largescreen display has a resolution equal to or greater than fullhigh-definition (HD), an aspect ratio of a set of aspect ratios, and ascreen size equal to or greater than thirty-two inches. The followingtable lists various combinations of resolution, aspect ratio, and screensize for the display 83, but it is not an exhaustive list.

pixel screen Width Height aspect aspect screen size Resolution (lines)(lines) ratio ratio (inches) HD (high 1280 720 1:1 16:9 32, 40, 43, 50,55, 60, definition) 65, 70, 75, &/or >80 Full HD 1920 1080 1:1 16:9 32,40, 43, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, &/or >80 HD 960 720 4:3 16:9 32, 40, 43,50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, &/or >80 HD 1440 1080 4:3 16:9 32, 40, 43, 50,55, 60, 65, 70, 75, &/or >80 HD 1280 1080 3:2 16:9 32, 40, 43, 50, 55,60, 65, 70, 75, &/or >80 QHD 2560 1440 1:1 16:9 32, 40, 43, 50, 55, 60,(quad 65, 70, 75, &/or >80 HD) UHD 3840 2160 1:1 16:9 32, 40, 43, 50,55, 60, (Ultra 65, 70, 75, &/or >80 HD) or 4K 8K 7680 4320 1:1 16:9 32,40, 43, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, &/or >80 HD and 1280- 720- 1:1, 2:3, 2:350, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, above >=7680 >=4320 etc. &/or >80

The display 83 is one of a variety of types of displays that is operableto render frames of data 87 into visible images. For example, thedisplay is one or more of: a light emitting diode (LED) display, anelectroluminescent display (ELD), a plasma display panel (PDP), a liquidcrystal display (LCD), an LCD high performance addressing (HPA) display,an LCD thin film transistor (TFT) display, an organic light emittingdiode (OLED) display, a digital light processing (DLP) display, asurface conductive electron emitter (SED) display, a field emissiondisplay (FED), a laser TV display, a carbon nanotubes display, a quantumdot display, an interferometric modulator display (IMOD), and a digitalmicroshutter display (DMS). The display is active in a full display modeor a multiplexed display mode (i.e., only part of the display is activeat a time).

The touch screen 12 includes integrated electrodes 85 that provide thesensors the touch sense part of the touch screen display. The electrodes85 are distributed throughout the display area or where touch screenfunctionality is desired. For example, a first group of the electrodesare arranged in rows and a second group of electrodes are arranged incolumns.

The electrodes 85 are comprised of a transparent conductive material andare in-cell or on-cell with respect to layers of the display. Forexample, a conductive trace is placed in-cell or on-cell of a layer ofthe touch screen display. The transparent conductive material, which issubstantially transparent and has negligible effect on video quality ofthe display with respect to the human eye. For instance, an electrode isconstructed from one or more of: Indium Tin Oxide, Graphene, CarbonNanotubes, Thin Metal Films, Silver Nanowires Hybrid Materials,Aluminum-doped Zinc Oxide (AZO), Amorphous Indium-Zinc Oxide,Gallium-doped Zinc Oxide (GZO), and poly polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT).

In an example of operation, the processing module 42 is executing anoperating system application 89 and one or more user applications 91.The user applications 91 includes, but is not limited to, a videoplayback application, a spreadsheet application, a word processingapplication, a computer aided drawing application, a photo displayapplication, an image processing application, a database application, agaming application, etc. While executing an application 91, theprocessing module generates data for display (e.g., video data, imagedata, text data, etc.). The processing module 42 sends the data to thevideo graphics processing module 48, which converts the data into framesof video 87.

The video graphics processing module 48 sends the frames of video 87(e.g., frames of a video file, refresh rate for a word processingdocument, a series of images, etc.) to the display interface 93. Thedisplay interface 93 provides the frames of data 87 to the display 83,which renders the frames of data 87 into visible images.

While the display 83 is rendering the frames of data 87 into visibleimages, the drive-sense circuits (DSC) provide sensor signals to theelectrodes 85. When the screen is touched by a pen or device, signals onthe electrodes 85 proximal to the touch (i.e., directly or close by) arechanged. The DSCs detect the change for effected electrodes and providethe detected change to the touch screen processing module 81.

The touch screen processing module 81 processes the change of theeffected electrodes to determine one or more specific locations of touchand provides this information to the processing module 42. Processingmodule 42 processes the one or more specific locations of touch todetermine if an operation of the application is to be altered. Forexample, the touch is indicative of a pause command, a fast forwardcommand, a reverse command, an increase volume command, a decreasevolume command, a stop command, a select command, a delete command, etc.

If the signals received from a device include embedded data, the touchscreen processing module 81 interprets the embedded data and providesthe resulting information to the processing module 42. If, interactivedisplay device 10 is not equipped to process embedded data, the devicestill communicates with the interactive display device 10 using thechange to the signals on the effected electrodes (e.g., increasemagnitude, decrease magnitude, phase shift, etc.).

FIGS. 4A-4B are schematic block diagrams of embodiments of a touchscreen electrode pattern that includes rows of electrodes 85-r andcolumns of electrodes 85-c. Each row of electrodes 85-r and each columnof electrodes 85-c includes a plurality of individual conductive cells(e.g., capacitive sense plates) (e.g., light gray squares for rows, darkgray squares for columns) that are electrically coupled together. Thesize of a cell depends on the desired resolution of touch sensing. Forexample, a cell size may be 1 millimeter by 1 millimeter to 5millimeters by 5 millimeters to provide adequate touch sensing for cellphones and tablets. Making the cells smaller improves touch resolutionand will typically reduce touch sensor errors (e.g., touching a “w” byan “e” is displayed). While the cells are shown to be square, they maybe of any polygonal shape, diamond, or circular shape.

The cells for the rows and columns may be on the same layer or ondifferent layers. In FIG. 4A, the cells for the rows and columns areshown on different layers. In FIG. 4B, the cells for the rows andcolumns are shown on the same layer. The electric coupling between thecells is done using vias and running traces (e.g., wire traces) onanother layer. Note that the cells are on one or more ITO layers of atouch screen, which includes a touch screen display.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a touch screensystem 86 that includes a user input passive device 88 in closeproximity to a touch screen 12 (e.g., interactive surface of theinteractive display device 10). FIG. 5 depicts a front, cross sectionalview of the user input passive device 88 (also referred to herein as thepassive device 88) that includes conductive plates 98-1 and 98-2 coupledto an impedance circuit 96. The user input passive device 88 may includea plurality of conductive (i.e., electrically conductive) plates andimpedance circuits.

The impedance circuit 96 and the conductive plates 98-1 and 98-2 causean impedance and/or frequency effect on electrodes 85 when in closeproximity to an interactive surface of the touch screen 12 (e.g., thepassive device 88 is close to or in direct contact with the touch screen12) that is detectable by the touch screen 12. As an alternative,conductive plates 98-1 and 98-2 may be a dielectric material. Dielectricmaterials generally increase mutual capacitance whereas conductivematerials typically decrease mutual capacitance. The touch screen isoperable to detect either or both effect. The user input passive device88 will be discussed in greater detail with reference to one or more ofFIGS. 6-25.

FIGS. 6A-6B are schematic block diagrams of embodiments of a touchscreen system 86 that include a simplified depiction of the touch screen12 as a touch screen electrode pattern that includes rows of electrodes85-r and columns of electrodes 85-c and a simplified depiction of theuser input passive device 88 with a transparent housing for ease ofviewing the bottom surface.

The row electrodes 85-r (light gray squares) and the column electrodes85-c (dark gray squares) of the touch screen 12 are on different layers(e.g., the rows are layered above the columns). A mutual capacitance iscreated between a row electrode and a column electrode.

The user input passive device 88 includes a housing that includes ashell 102 (e.g., conductive, non-conductive, dielectric, etc.), anon-conductive supporting surface (not shown), a plurality of impedancecircuits, and a plurality of conductive plates. The plurality ofconductive plates are mounted on the non-conductive supporting surfacesuch that the shell 102 and the plurality of conductive plates areelectrically isolated from each other and able to affect the touchscreen 12 surface. The impedance circuits and the conductive plates thatmay be arranged in a variety of patterns (e.g., equally spaced,staggered, diagonal, etc.). The size of the conductive plates variesdepending on the size of the electrode cells and the desired impedanceand/or frequency change to be detected.

One or more of the plurality of impedance circuits and plurality ofconductive plates cause an impedance and/or frequency effect when theuser input passive device 88 is in close proximity to an interactivesurface of the touch screen 12 (e.g., the passive device 88 is restingon or near the touch screen 12). The impedance and/or frequency effectsdetected by the touch screen 12 are interpreted as deviceidentification, orientation, one or more user functions, one or moreuser instructions, etc.

In FIG. 6A, the user input passive device 88 includes impedance circuitsZ1-Z3 and conductive plates P1-P6. Each of the conductive plates P1-P6are larger than each electrode of the touch screen 12 in order to affectmultiple touch screen electrodes per plate. For example, a conductiveplate may be 2-10 times larger than an electrode. In this example, theconductive plates are shown having approximately four times the area ofan electrode (e.g., an electrode is approximately 5 millimeters by 5millimeters and a conductive plate is approximately 10 millimeters by 10millimeters). With multiple electrodes affected per plate, the impedanceand/or frequency effect caused by a particular plate can be betteridentified by the touch screen 12.

In FIG. 6B, the user input passive device 88 includes impedance circuitsZ1-Z6 and conductive plates P1-P12. In the example of FIG. 6B, eachconductive plate is approximately the same size as an electrode. Eachconductive plate may be the same size as an electrode or smaller than anelectrode. While less electrodes are affected per plate than in theexample of FIG. 6A, multiple electrodes are affected (e.g., relativeimpedance changes and/or direct impedance changes) in a particularpattern recognizable to the touch screen 12. The user input passivedevice 88 will be discussed in greater detail with reference to one ormore of FIGS. 7A-25.

FIGS. 7A-7B are cross section schematic block diagrams of examples ofcapacitance of a touch screen 12 with no contact with a user inputpassive device 88. The electrode 85 s are positioned proximal todielectric layer 92, which is between a cover dielectric layer 90 andthe display substrate 94. In FIG. 7A, the row electrodes 85-r 1 and 85-r2 are on a layer above the column electrodes 85-c 1 and 85-c 2. In FIG.7B, the row electrodes 85-r and the column electrodes 85-c are on thesame layer. Each electrode 85 has a self-capacitance, which correspondsto a parasitic capacitance created by the electrode with respect toother conductors in the display (e.g., ground, conductive layer(s),and/or one or more other electrodes).

For example, row electrode 85-r 1 has a parasitic capacitance C_(p2),column electrode 85-c 1 has a parasitic capacitance Cri, row electrode85-r 2 has a parasitic capacitance C_(p4), and column electrode 85-c 2has a parasitic capacitance C_(p3). Note that each electrode includes aresistance component and, as such, produces a distributed R-C circuit.The longer the electrode, the greater the impedance of the distributedR-C circuit. For simplicity of illustration the distributed R-C circuitof an electrode will be represented as a single parasiticself-capacitance.

As shown, the touch screen 12 includes a plurality of layers 90-94. Eachillustrated layer may itself include one or more layers. For example,dielectric layer 90 includes a surface protective film, a glassprotective film, and/or one or more pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA)layers. As another example, the second dielectric layer 92 includes aglass cover, a polyester (PET) film, a support plate (glass or plastic)to support, or embed, one or more of the electrodes 85-c 1, 85-c 2, 85-r1, and 85-r 2 (e.g., where the column and row electrodes are ondifferent layers), a base plate (glass, plastic, or PET), an ITO layer,and one or more PSA layers. As yet another example, the displaysubstrate 94 includes one or more LCD layers, a back-light layer, one ormore reflector layers, one or more polarizing layers, and/or one or morePSA layers.

A mutual capacitance (Cm_1 and Cm_2) exists between a row electrode anda column electrode. When no touch and/or device is present, theself-capacitances and mutual capacitances of the touch screen 12 are ata nominal state. Depending on the length, width, and thickness of theelectrodes, separation from the electrodes and other conductivesurfaces, and dielectric properties of the layers, the self-capacitancesand mutual capacitances can range from a few pico-Farads to 10's ofnano-Farads.

Touch screen 12 includes a plurality of drive sense circuits (DSCs). TheDSCs are coupled to the electrodes and detect changes for affectedelectrodes. The DSC functions as described in co-pending patentapplication entitled, “DRIVE SENSE CIRCUIT WITH DRIVE-SENSE LINE”,having a serial number of Ser. No. 16/113,379, and a filing date of Aug.27, 2018.

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of an example of capacitance of atouch screen system 86 that includes the touch screen 12 and a userinput passive device 88 in contact with the touch screen 12. In thisexample, the user input passive device 88 is in contact (or within aclose proximity) with an interactive surface of the touch screen 12 butthere is no human touch on the user input passive device 88.

The user input passive device 88 includes impedance circuit 96,conductive plates 98-1 and 98-2, a non-conductive supporting surface100, and a conductive shell 102. The conductive shell 102 andnon-conductive supporting surface shell 100 together form a housing forthe user input passive device 88. The housing has an outer shapecorresponding to at least one of: a computing mouse, a game piece, acup, a utensil, a plate, and a coaster. The conductive shell 102 mayalternatively be a non-conductive or dielectric shell. When the shell102 is non-conductive, a human touch does not provide a path to groundand does not affect both self-capacitance and mutual capacitance of thesensor electrodes 85. In that example, only mutual capacitance changesfrom the conductive plates are detected by touch screen 12 when the userinput passive device 88 is in close proximity to the touch screen 12surface. Because additional functionality exists when the shell isconductive, the shell 102 is referred to as conductive shell 102 in theremainder of the examples.

The conductive plates 98-1 and 98-2 and the conductive shell 102 are incontact with the touch screen 12's interactive surface. Thenon-conductive supporting surface 100 electrically isolates theconductive shell 102, the conductive plate 98-1, and the conductiveplate 98-2. The impedance circuit 96 connects the conductive plate 98-1and the conductive plate 98-2 and has a desired impedance at a desiredfrequency. The impedance circuit 96 is discussed with more detail withreference to FIGS. 15A-15F.

The user input passive device 88 is capacitively coupled to one or moresensor electrodes 85 proximal to the contact. The sensor electrodes 85may be on the same or different layers as discussed with reference toFIGS. 7A-7B. Because the conductive plates 98-1 and 98-2 and theconductive shell 102 are electrically isolated, when a person touchesthe conductive shell 102 of the passive device 88, the person provides apath to ground such that the conductive shell 102 affects both themutual capacitance and the self-capacitance.

When the passive device 88 is not touched by a person (as shown here),there is no path to ground and the conductive shell 102 only affects themutual capacitance. The conductive plates 98-1 and 98-2 do not have apath to ground regardless of a touch and thus only affect mutualcapacitance when the passive device is touched or untouched. Because thecontact area of the conductive plates 98-1 and 98-2 is much larger thanthe conductive shell 102, the mutual capacitance change(s) detected isprimarily due to the conductive plates 98-1 and 98-2 and the effect ofthe impedance circuit 96 not the conductive shell 102.

As an example, when the user input passive device 88 is resting on thetouch screen 12 with no human touch, the user input passive device 88 iscapacitively coupled to the touch screen 12 of the touch screen system86 via capacitance Cd1 and Cd2 (e.g., where Cd1 and Cd2 are with respectto a row and/or a column electrode). Depending on the area of theconductive plates 98-1 and 98-2, the effect of the impedance circuit 96,and the dielectric layers 90-92, the capacitance of Cd1 or Cd2 is in therange of 1 to 2 pico-Farads. The values of Cd1 and Cd2 affect mutualcapacitances Cm_1 and Cm_2. For example, Cd1 and Cd2 may raise or lowerthe value of Cm_1 and Cm_2 by approximately 1 pico-Farad. Examples ofthe mutual capacitance changes caused by the passive device 88 will bediscussed in more detail with reference to FIGS. 16A-25.

In this cross-sectional view, two conductive plates and one impedancecircuit are shown. However, the passive device 88 may include multiplesets of conductive plates where each set is connected by an impedancecircuit. The various sets of conductive plates can have differentimpedance effects on the electrodes of the touch screen which cancorrespond to different information and/or passive device functions.

Drive-sense circuits (DSC) are operable to detect the changes in mutualcapacitance and/or other changes to the electrodes and interpret theirmeaning. For example, by detecting changes in mutual capacitance and/orby detecting characteristics of the impedance circuit 96 (e.g., a sweepfor resonant frequency of an impedance circuit 96), the DSCs of thetouch screen 12 determines the presence, identification (e.g., of aparticular user), and/or orientation of the user input passive device88.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of another example of capacitance ofa touch screen system 86 that includes the touch screen 12 and a userinput passive device 88 in contact with the touch screen 12. In thisexample, the user input passive device 88 is in contact (or within aclose proximity) with the touch screen 12 and there is a human touch onthe conductive shell 102 of the user input passive device 88. When aperson touches the conductive shell 102 of the passive device 88, theperson provides a path to ground such that the conductive shell 102affects both the mutual capacitance and the self-capacitance. Here,parasitic capacitances Cp1, Cp2, Cp3, and Cp4 are shown as affected byCHB (the self-capacitance change caused by the human body).

Drive-sense circuits (DSC) are operable to detect the changes in selfcapacitance and/or other changes to the electrodes and interpret theirmeaning. For example, by detecting changes in self capacitance alongwith mutual capacitance changes, the DSCs of the touch screen 12determines that the user input passive device 88 is on the touch screen12 and that it is in use by a user. While the user input passive device88 continues to be touched (e.g., the self-capacitance change isdetected), mutual capacitance changes may indicate different functions.For example, without a touch, a mutual capacitance changes caused by theconductive plates ID the passive device. With a touch, the mutualcapacitance change caused by the conductive plates can indicate aselection, an orientation, and/or any user initiated touch screenfunction.

In an embodiment where the conductive shell 102 is not conductive, aperson touching the passive device does not provide a path to ground anda touch only minimally affects mutual capacitance.

FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram of another example of capacitanceof a touch screen system 86 that includes the touch screen 12 and a userinput passive device 88 in contact with the touch screen 12. In thisexample, the user input passive device 88 is in contact (or in closeproximity) with the touch screen 12 and there is a human touch on theconductive shell 102 of the user input passive device 88.

When a person touches the conductive shell 102 of the passive device 88,the person provides a path to ground such that the conductive shell 102affects both the mutual capacitance and the self-capacitance. Here,parasitic capacitances Cp1, Cp2, Cp3, and Cp4 are shown as affected byCHB (the self-capacitance change caused by the human body).

Further, in this example, the conductive shell includes a switchmechanism (e.g., switch 104) on the conductive shell 102 of the passivedevice 88 housing. When a user presses (or otherwise engages/closes) theswitch 104, the impedance circuit is adjusted (e.g., the impedancecircuit Zx is connected to Z1 in parallel). Adjusting the impedancecircuit causes a change to Cd1 and Cd2 thus affecting the mutualcapacitances Cm_1 and Cm_2. The change in impedance can indicate anynumber of functions such as a selection, a right click, erase,highlight, select, etc.

While one switch is shown here, multiple switches can be included whereeach impedance caused by an open and closed switch represents adifferent user function. Further, gestures or motion patterns can bedetected via the impedance changes that corresponding to differentfunctions. For example, a switch can be touched twice quickly toindicate a double-click. As another example, the switch can be pressedand held down for a period of time to indicate another function (e.g., azoom). A pattern of moving from one switch to another can indicate afunction such as a scroll.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of another example of capacitanceof a touch screen system 86 that includes the touch screen 12 and a userinput passive device 75 in contact with the touch screen 12. The userinput passive device 75 includes conductive plates 98-1 and 98-2, and anon-conductive layer 77. The non-conductive layer 77 electricallyisolates conductive plates 98-1 and 98-2 from each other.

In this example, the user input passive device 75 is in contact (orwithin a close proximity) with the touch screen 12 and there is a humantouch directly on the conductive plate 98-1 of the user input passivedevice 75. When a person touches a conductive plate of the passivedevice 75, the person provides a path to ground such that the conductiveplates affect both the mutual capacitance and the self-capacitance ofthe sensor electrodes 85. With conductive plates 98-1 and 98-2capacitively coupled (e.g., Cd1 and Cd2) to sensor electrodes 85, mutualcapacitances Cm_1 and Cm_2 are affected and parasitic capacitances Cp1,Cp2, Cp3, and Cp4 are affected by CHB (the self-capacitance changecaused by the human body).

Drive-sense circuits (DSC) are operable to detect the changes in selfand mutual capacitance and/or other changes to the electrodes andinterpret their meaning. For example, by detecting changes in selfcapacitance along with mutual capacitance changes, the DSCs of the touchscreen 12 determines that the user input passive device 75 is on thetouch screen 12 and that it is in use by a user. While the user inputpassive device 75 continues to be touched (e.g., the self-capacitancechange is detected), mutual capacitance changes may indicate differentfunctions. For example, without a touch, a mutual capacitance changescaused by the conductive plates ID the passive device. With a touch, themutual capacitance change caused by the conductive plates can indicate aselection, an orientation, and/or any user initiated touch screenfunction.

While two conductive plates are shown here, the user input passivedevice 75 may include one or more conductive plates, where touches tothe one or more conductive plates can indicate a plurality of functions.For example, a touch to both conductive plates 98-1 and 98-2 mayindicate a selection, a touch to conductive plate 98-1 may indicate aright click, touching conductive plates in a particular pattern and/orsequence may indicate a scroll, etc. The user input passive device 75may further include a scroll wheel in contact with one or moreconductive plates, conductive pads on one or more surfaces of thedevice, conductive zones for indicating various functions, etc. As such,any number of user functions including traditional functions of a mouseand/or trackpad can be achieved passively.

FIG. 12 is a cross section schematic block diagram of an example ofcapacitance of a touch screen 12 with no contact with a user inputpassive device 88. FIG. 12 is similar to the example of FIG. 7B exceptone row electrode 85-r and one column electrode 85-c of the touch screen12 are shown on the same layer. The electrode 85 s are positionedproximal to dielectric layer 92, which is between a cover dielectriclayer 90 and the display substrate 94.

Each electrode 85 has a self-capacitance, which corresponds to aparasitic capacitance created by the electrode with respect to otherconductors in the display (e.g., ground, conductive layer(s), and/or oneor more other electrodes).

For example, row electrode 85-r has a parasitic capacitance C_(p2) andcolumn electrode 85-c has a parasitic capacitance Cri. Note that eachelectrode includes a resistance component and, as such, produces adistributed R-C circuit. The longer the electrode, the greater theimpedance of the distributed R-C circuit. For simplicity of illustrationthe distributed R-C circuit of an electrode will be represented as asingle parasitic self-capacitance.

As shown, the touch screen 12 includes a plurality of layers 90-94. Eachillustrated layer may itself include one or more layers. For example,dielectric layer 90 includes a surface protective film, a glassprotective film, and/or one or more pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA)layers. As another example, the second dielectric layer 92 includes aglass cover, a polyester (PET) film, a support plate (glass or plastic)to support, or embed, one or more of the electrodes 85-c and 85-r (e.g.,where the column and row electrodes are on different layers), a baseplate (glass, plastic, or PET), an ITO layer, and one or more PSAlayers. As yet another example, the display substrate 94 includes one ormore LCD layers, a back-light layer, one or more reflector layers, oneor more polarizing layers, and/or one or more PSA layers.

A mutual capacitance (Cm_0) exists between a row electrode and a columnelectrode. When no touch and/or device is present, the self-capacitancesand mutual capacitances of the touch screen 12 are at a nominal state.Depending on the length, width, and thickness of the electrodes,separation from the electrodes and other conductive surfaces, anddielectric properties of the layers, the self-capacitances and mutualcapacitances can range from a few pico-Farads to 10's of nano-Farads.

Touch screen 12 includes a plurality of drive sense circuits (DSCs). TheDSCs are coupled to the electrodes and detect changes for affectedelectrodes.

FIGS. 13A-13B are schematic block diagrams of examples of capacitance ofa touch screen system 86 that includes the touch screen 12 and a userinput passive device 88 in contact with the touch screen 12. In thisexample, the user input passive device 88 is in contact (or within aclose proximity) with an interactive surface of the touch screen 12 butthere is no human touch on the user input passive device 88. FIGS.13A-13B operate similarly to the example of FIG. 8 except that only onerow electrode 85-r and one column electrodes 85-c are shown on a samelayer of the touch screen 12.

As shown in FIG. 13A, the user input passive device 88 includesimpedance circuit 96 (Z1), conductive plates 98-1 and 98-2 (P1 and P2),a non-conductive supporting surface 100, and a conductive shell 102. Theconductive shell 102 and non-conductive supporting surface shell 100together form a housing for the user input passive device 88. Thehousing has an outer shape corresponding to at least one of: a computingmouse, a game piece, a cup, a utensil, a plate, and a coaster.

The conductive plates 98-1 and 98-2 and the conductive shell 102 are incontact with the touch screen 12's interactive surface. Thenon-conductive supporting surface 100 electrically isolates theconductive shell 102, the conductive plate 98-1, and the conductiveplate 98-2. The impedance circuit 96 connects the conductive plate 98-1and the conductive plate 98-2 and has a desired impedance at a desiredfrequency. The impedance circuit 96 is discussed with more detail withreference to FIGS. 15A-15F.

The user input passive device 88 is capacitively coupled to one or morerows and/or column electrodes proximal to the contact. Because theconductive plates 98-1 and 98-2 and the conductive shell 102 areelectrically isolated, when a person touches the conductive shell 102 ofthe passive device 88, the person provides a path to ground such thatthe conductive shell 102 affects both the mutual capacitance and theself-capacitance.

When the passive device 88 is not touched by a person (as shown here),there is no path to ground and the conductive shell 102 only affects themutual capacitance. The conductive plates 98-1 and 98-2 do not have apath to ground regardless of a touch and thus only affect mutualcapacitance when the passive device is touched or untouched. Because thecontact area of the conductive plates 98-1 and 98-2 is much larger thanthe conductive shell 102, the mutual capacitance change detected isprimarily due to the conductive plates 98-1 and 98-2 and the effect ofthe impedance circuit 96 not the conductive shell 102.

As an example, when the user input passive device 88 is resting on thetouch screen 12 with no human touch, the user input passive device 88 iscapacitively coupled to the touch screen 12 of the touch screen system86 via capacitance Cd1 and Cd2 (e.g., where Cd1 and Cd2 are with respectto a row and/or a column electrode). Depending on the area of theconductive plates 98-1 and 98-2, the effect of the impedance circuit 96,and the dielectric layers 90-92, the capacitance of Cd1 or Cd2 is in therange of 1 to 2 pico-Farads. The values of Cd1 and Cd2 affect mutualcapacitance Cm_0 (created between the column and row electrode on thesame layer). For example, Cd1 and Cd2 may raise or lower the value ofCm_0 by approximately 1 pico-Farad.

In this cross-sectional view, two conductive plates and one impedancecircuit are shown. However, the passive device 88 may include multiplesets of conductive plates where each set is connected by an impedancecircuit. The various sets of conductive plates can have differentimpedance effects on the electrodes of the touch screen which cancorrespond to different information and/or passive device functions.

Drive-sense circuits (DSCs 1-2) are operable to detect the changes inmutual capacitance and/or other changes to the electrodes and interprettheir meaning. One DSC per row and one DSC per column are affected inthis example. For example, by detecting changes in mutual capacitanceand/or by detecting characteristics of the impedance circuit 96 (e.g., asweep for resonant frequency of an impedance circuit 96), the DSCs ofthe touch screen 12 determines the presence, identification (e.g., of aparticular user), and/or orientation of the user input passive device88.

FIG. 13B shows a simplified circuit diagram representation of FIG. 13A.The capacitances Cd1 and Cd2 of the user input passive device 88 arecoupled to the touch screen 12 such that the mutual capacitance Cm_0between column and row electrodes 85 is affected. However, with no humantouch, there is no path to ground. Therefore, the collective parasiticcapacitances Cp2 and Cp1 remain substantially unchanged. DSC 1 maydetect changes to one row and DSC 2 may detect changes to one column.Thus, DSC 1 and DSC 2 are operable to sense a mutual capacitance changeto Cm_0.

FIGS. 14A-14B are schematic block diagrams of another example ofcapacitance of a touch screen system 86 that includes the touch screen12 and a user input passive device 88 in contact with the touch screen12. In this example, the user input passive device 88 is in contact (orwithin a close proximity) with the touch screen 12 and there is a humantouch on the conductive shell 102 of the user input passive device 88.FIGS. 14A and 14B operate similarly to FIG. 9 except electrodes 85-r and85-c are shown on the same layer of the touch screen 12.

When a person touches the conductive shell 102 of the passive device 88,the person provides a path to ground such that the conductive shell 102affects both the mutual capacitance and the self-capacitance. Here,parasitic capacitances Cp1 and Cp2 are shown as affected by CHB (theself-capacitance change caused by the human body).

Drive-sense circuits (DSCs 1-2) are operable to detect the changes inself capacitance and/or other changes to the electrodes and interprettheir meaning. For example, by detecting changes in self capacitancealong with mutual capacitance changes, the DSCs of the touch screen 12determines that the user input passive device 88 is on the touch screen12 and that it is in use by a user. While the user input passive device88 continues to be touched (e.g., the self-capacitance change isdetected), mutual capacitance changes may indicate different functions.For example, without a touch, a mutual capacitance change IDs thepassive device. With a touch, the mutual capacitance change can indicatea selection, an orientation, and/or any user initiated touch screenfunction.

FIG. 14B shows a simplified circuit diagram representation of FIG. 14A.The capacitances Cd1 and Cd2 of the user input passive device 88 arecoupled to the touch screen 12 such that the mutual capacitance Cm_0between column and row electrodes 85 is affected. With a human touchthere is path to ground. Therefore, the collective parasiticcapacitances Cp2 and Cp1 are affected by CHB (the self-capacitancechange caused by the human body). DSC 1 may detect changes to one rowand DSC 2 may detect changes to one column. Thus, DSC 1 and DSC 2 areoperable to sense a mutual capacitance change to Cm_0 as well as theeffect of CHB on Cp2 and Cp1.

FIGS. 15A-15F are schematic block diagrams of examples of the impedancecircuit 96. In FIG. 15A the impedance circuit 96 is a parallel tank (LC)circuit (e.g., an inductor and a capacitor connected in parallel). Inresonance, (i.e., operating at resonant frequency) a parallel tankcircuit experiences high impedance and behaves like an open circuitallowing minimal current flow.

In FIG. 15B, the impedance circuit 96 is a series tank (LC) circuit(e.g., an inductor and a capacitor connected in series). In resonance, aseries tank circuit experiences low impedance and behaves like a shortcircuit allowing maximum current flow.

In FIG. 15C, the impedance circuit 96 is a wire (i.e., a short circuit).In FIG. 15D the impedance circuit 96 is a resister. In FIG. 15E, theimpedance circuit 96 is a capacitor. In FIG. 15F, the impedance circuit96 is an inductor. Impedance circuit 96 may include any combinationand/or number of resistors, capacitors, and/or inductors connected inseries and/or parallel (e.g., any RLC circuit).

FIGS. 16A-16B are schematic block diagrams of examples of mutualcapacitance changes to electrodes 85 with a parallel tank circuit as theimpedance circuit 96. The parallel tank circuit 96 includes an inductorand a capacitor connected in parallel. The user input passive device iscapacitively coupled to the touch screen 12 of the touch screen system86 via capacitance Cd1 and Cd2. In this example, row and columnelectrodes are on different layers and the capacitance of each of Cd1 isCd2 is 2 pico-Farads. The values of Cd1 and Cd2 affect mutualcapacitances Cm_1 and Cm_2. Without any contact, the capacitance of eachof Cm_1 and Cm_2 are 2 pico-Farad in this example.

As shown in FIG. 16A, when the parallel tank circuit 96 is out ofresonance (i.e., operating at any frequency besides resonant frequency),the parallel tank circuit 96 has low impedance allowing current to flow.Thus, out of resonance, Cm_1 is connected in parallel to a seriescombination of Cd1 and Cd2 and Cm_2 is connected in parallel to a seriescombination of Cd1 and Cd2. Therefore, out of resonance, Cm_1 and Cm_2go from 2 pico-Farads to 3 pico-Farads.

As shown in FIG. 16B, when the parallel tank circuit 96 is in resonance(i.e., operating at resonant frequency), parallel tank circuit 96 hashigh impedance restricting current flow. Thus, at resonance, Cm_1 andCm_2 experience minimal change from Cd1 and Cd2. Therefore, atresonance, Cm_1 and Cm_2 remain 2 pico-Farads.

FIGS. 17A-17B are schematic block diagrams of examples of mutualcapacitance changes to electrodes 85 with a series tank circuit as theimpedance circuit 96. The series tank circuit 96 includes an inductorand a capacitor connected in series. The user input passive device iscapacitively coupled to the touch screen 12 of the touch screen system86 via capacitance Cd1 and Cd2. In this example, row and columnelectrodes are on different layers and the capacitance of each of Cd1 isCd2 is 2 pico-Farads. The values of Cd1 and Cd2 affect mutualcapacitances Cm_1 and Cm_2. Without any contact, the capacitance of eachof Cm_1 and Cm_2 are 2 pico-Farad in this example.

As shown in FIG. 17A, when the series tank circuit 96 is out ofresonance (i.e., operating at any frequency besides resonant frequency)the series tank circuit 96 has high impedance restricting current flow.Thus, out of resonance, Cm_1 and Cm_2 experience minimal change from Cd1and Cd2. Therefore, out of resonance, Cm_1 and Cm_2 stay at 2pico-Farads.

As shown in FIG. 17B, when the series tank circuit 96 is in resonance(i.e., operating at resonant frequency), the series tank circuit 96 haslow impedance allowing current to flow. Thus, Cm_1 is connected inparallel to a series combination of Cd1 and Cd2 and Cm_2 is connected inparallel to a series combination of Cd1 and Cd2. Therefore, inresonance, Cm_1 and Cm_2 go from 2 pico-Farads to 3 pico-Farads.

FIGS. 18A-18B are examples of detecting mutual capacitance change. FIG.18A depicts a graph of frequency versus mutual capacitances Cm_1 andCm_2 from the example of FIGS. 16A-16B where the impedance circuit is aparallel tank circuit. In this example, the touch screen 12 does afrequency sweep. At all frequencies besides the resonant frequency ofthe parallel tank circuit, Cm_1 and Cm_2 will be 3 pico-Farads when thepassive device is in contact. At the resonant frequency (e.g., 1 MHz), ashift from 3 pico-Farads to 2 pico-Farads can be detected.

FIG. 18B depicts a graph of frequency versus mutual capacitances Cm_1and Cm_2 from the example of FIGS. 17A-17B where the impedance circuitis a series tank circuit. In this example, the touch screen 12 does afrequency sweep. At all frequencies besides the resonant frequency ofthe series tank circuit, Cm_1 and Cm_2 will be 2 pico-Farads when thepassive device is in contact. At the resonant frequency (e.g., 1 MHz), ashift from 2 pico-Farads to 3 pico-Farads can be detected.

FIGS. 19A-19B are examples of detecting capacitance change. FIG. 19Adepicts a graph of frequency versus capacitance with a channel spacingof 100 KHz. In this example, the passive device is in contact with thetouch screen and is also being touched by a user. Using a frequencysweep, the self-capacitance change from the user touching the conductiveshell is detectable at 100 Khz in this example. In accordance with thetank circuit impedance circuit examples discussed previously, the mutualcapacitance change from the impedance circuit and conductive plates isdetectable at a resonant frequency of the tank circuit (e.g., 1 MHz).Therefore, when the frequency of detectable impedance changes is known,the touch screen is able to sweep those frequencies to determine thepresence and various functions of the passive device.

FIG. 19B depicts a graph of frequency versus capacitance with a channelspacing of 100 KHz. In this example, the passive device is in contactwith the touch screen and is also being touched by a user. Further, thepassive device includes a switching mechanism which affects theimpedance of the impedance circuit. For example, the resonant frequencyof the impedance circuit when the switch mechanism is closed increases.Using a frequency sweep, the self-capacitance change from the usertouching the conductive shell is detectable at 100 Khz.

In accordance with the tank circuit impedance circuit examples discussedpreviously, the mutual capacitance change from the impedance circuit andconductive plates when the switch is open is detectable at a firstresonant frequency (e.g., 1 MHz). The mutual-capacitance change from theimpedance circuit and conductive plates when the switch is closed isdetectable at a second resonant frequency (e.g., 2 MHz). As such,detecting the self-capacitance change from the user touching the deviceas well as detecting the second frequency (2 MHz) indicates a particularuser function (e.g., select, zoom, highlight, erase, scroll, etc.).

A drive sense circuit of the touch screen is operable to transmit a selfand a mutual frequency per channel for sensing but also has the abilityto transmit multiple other frequencies per channel. As an additionalexample of performing a frequency sweep, one or more frequencies inaddition to the standard self and mutual frequency can be transmittedper channel. The one or more additional frequencies change every refreshcycle and can aid in detecting devices/objects and/or user functions.For example, a set of known frequencies can be transmitted every refreshcycle and detected frequency responses can indicate various functions.For example, an object responds to a particular frequency and the touchscreen interprets the object as an eraser for interaction with the touchscreen.

FIG. 20 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a touch screensystem 86 that includes a user input passive device 88 in contact with atouch screen 12. FIG. 20 is similar to the example of FIG. 6A but onlythe conductive plates (P1-P6) and impedance circuits (Z1-Z3) of the userinput passive device 88 are shown. FIG. 20 shows a simplified depictionof the touch screen 12 as a touch screen electrode pattern that includesrows of electrodes 85-r and columns of electrodes 85-c. Here, theconductive cells for the rows (light gray squares) and columns (darkgray squares) are on different layers (e.g., the rows are layered abovethe columns). Alternatively, the rows and columns may be on the samelayer. A mutual capacitance is created between a row electrode and acolumn electrode. An electrode cell may be 1 millimeter by 1 millimeterto 5 millimeters by 5 millimeters depending on resolution.

The conductive plates P1-P6 are shown as approximately four times thearea of an electrode cell in this example (e.g., an electrode cell is 5millimeters by 5 millimeters and a conductive plate is 10 millimeters by10 millimeters) to affect multiple electrodes per plate. The size of theconductive plates can vary depending on the size of the electrode cellsand the desired impedance change to be detected. For example, theconductive plate may be substantially the same size as an electrodecell.

One or more of the plurality of impedance circuits and plurality ofconductive plates cause an impedance and/or frequency effect when inclose proximity to an interactive surface of the touch screen 12 (e.g.,the passive device 88 is resting on the touch screen 12) that isdetectable by the touch screen 12. As shown here, the conductive platesof user input passive device 88 are aligned over the conductive cells ofthe touch screen 12 such that the mutual capacitances of four row andcolumn electrodes are fully affected per conductive plate.

FIG. 21 is a schematic block diagram of an example of a mutualcapacitance change gradient 110 caused by the user input passive device88 on the touch screen 12 in accordance with the example described withreference to FIG. 20 (e.g., the conductive plates align with conductivecells of the touch screen 12). For simplicity, only the conductive cellsfor the row electrodes (light gray squares) are shown. The mutualcapacitance effect is created between a row electrode and a columnelectrode.

When the conductive plates of the user input passive device 88 alignwith conductive cells of the touch screen 12 in the most idealsituation, the mutual capacitance of four row and column electrodes areaffected per conductive plate. Each mutual capacitance change 108 in thearea of the user input passive device creates a mutual capacitancechange gradient 110 that is detectable by the touch screen 12.

Capacitance change detection, whether mutual, self, or both, isdependent on the channel width of the touch screen sensor, the thicknessof the cover glass, and other touch screen sensor properties. Forexample, a higher resolution channel width spacing allows for moresensitive capacitive change detection.

FIG. 22 is a schematic block diagram of another example of a mutualcapacitance change gradient 110 caused by the user input passive device88 on touch screen 12 in accordance with the example described withreference to FIG. 20 (e.g., the conductive plates align with conductivecells of the touch screen 12). For simplicity, only the conductive cellsfor the row electrodes (light gray squares) are shown. The mutualcapacitance effect is created between a row electrode and a columnelectrode.

When the conductive plates of the user input passive device 88 alignwith conductive cells of the touch screen 12 in the most idealsituation, the mutual capacitance between four row column electrodes areaffected per conductive plate. Each mutual capacitance change 108 in thearea of the user input passive device creates a mutual capacitancechange gradient 110 that is detectable across the touch screen 12.

In this example, the two lower plates of the user input passive devicecreate a different mutual capacitance change than the other fourconductive plates. For example, impedance circuits Z1 and Z2 (see FIG.20 for reference) are series tank circuit causing the mutual capacitanceof the electrodes to raise during a resonant frequency sweep. Theimpedance circuit Z3 may be a parallel tank circuit with the sameresonant frequency as the series tank circuit such that the mutualcapacitance of the electrodes lowers during the resonant frequencysweep. The difference in mutual capacitance changes 108 across themutual capacitance change gradient 110 can indicate orientation of theuser input passive device.

FIG. 23 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a touch screensystem 86 that includes a user input passive device 88 in contact with atouch screen 12. FIG. 23 is similar to FIG. 20 except here theconductive plates of the user input passive device 88 are not alignedover the electrode cells of the touch screen 12. For example, oneconductive plate of the passive device 88 fully covers one electrodecell and only portions of the eight surrounding electrode cells.

FIG. 24 is a schematic block diagram of another example of a mutualcapacitance change gradient 110 caused by the user input passive device88 on touch screen 12 in accordance with the example described withreference to FIG. 23 (e.g., the conductive plates do not align withelectrode cells of the touch screen 12).

With one conductive plate of the user input passive device 88 fullycovering only one conductive cell, the greatest mutual capacitancechange 112 is detected from the fully covered electrodes (e.g., shown bythe dark gray squares and the largest white arrows). Each conductiveplate also covers portions of eight surrounding electrode cells creatingareas of lesser mutual capacitance changes (e.g., shown by the lightershades of grays and the smaller white arrows).

Thus, the touch screen 12 is operable to detect the user input passivedevice 88 from a range of mutual capacitance change gradients 110 (i.e.,mutual capacitance change patterns) from a fully aligned gradient (asillustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22) to a partially aligned gradient.

The touch screen 12 is operable to recognize mutual capacitance changepatterns as well as detect an aggregate mutual capacitance change withinthe mutual capacitance change gradients 110. For example, the touchscreen 12 can recognize a range of aggregate mutual capacitance changeswithin a certain area that identify the user input passive device (e.g.,aggregate mutual capacitance changes of 12 pF-24 pF in a 30 millimeterby 30 millimeter area are representative of the user input passivedevice).

FIG. 25 is a schematic block diagram of an example of determiningrelative impedance that includes user input passive device 88 in contactwith touch screen 12. For simplicity, the touch screen 12 is shown astouch screen electrode pattern that includes rows of electrodes 85-r andcolumns of electrodes 85-c. Here, the conductive cells for the rows(white squares) and columns (dark gray squares) are on same layer butmay be on different layers as discussed previously.

As the user input passive device 88 contacts the touch screen 12surface, impedance circuits Z1-Z3 and corresponding conductive platesP1-P6 cause mutual capacitance changes to the touch screen 12. Detectingexact mutual capacitance changes in order to identify the user inputpassive device 88 and user input passive device 88 functions can bechallenging due to small capacitance changes and other capacitances ofthe touch screen potentially altering the measurements. Therefore, inthis example, a relative impedance effect is detected so that exactimpedance measurements are not needed.

For example, the relationship between the impedance effects of Z1, Z2,and Z3 (and corresponding conductive plates) are known and constant. Theimpedance effects of Z1, Z2, and Z3 are individually determined, andbased on the relationship between those effects, the user input passivedevice 88 can be identified (e.g., as being present and/or to identifyuser functions). For example, Z1/Z2, Z2/Z3, and Z1/Z3 are calculated todetermine a first constant value, a second constant value, and a thirdconstant value respectively. The combination of the first constantvalue, the second constant value, and the third constant value isrecognized as an impedance pattern associated with the user inputpassive device 88. The methods for detecting the user input passivedevice and interpreting user input passive device functions describedabove can be used singularly or in combination.

FIG. 26 is a schematic block diagram of an example of capacitance of atouch screen 12 in contact with a user input passive device 95. In thisexample, the user input passive device 95 includes a conductivematerial. The user input passive device 95 may include a conductiveshell with a hollow center, a solid conductive material, a combinationof conductive and non-conductive materials, etc. The user input passivedevice 95 may include a spherical, half-spherical, and/or other roundedshape for user interaction with the touch screen 12. Examples of theuser input passive device 95 will be discussed further with reference toFIGS. 27-31.

The user input passive device 95 is capacitively coupled to one or morerows and/or column electrodes proximal to the contact (e.g., Cd1 andCd2). A zoomed in view is shown here to illustrate contact between theuser input passive device 95 and two electrodes of the touch screen 12,however, many more electrodes are affected when the user input passivedevice 95 is in contact (or within a close proximity) with the touchscreen 12 because the user input passive device 95 is much larger incomparison to an electrode. In this example, there is a human touch(e.g., via a palm and/or finger 97) on the conductive material of theuser input passive device 95.

When a person touches the conductive material of the passive device 95,the person provides a path to ground such that the conductive materialaffects both the mutual capacitance (Cm_0) and the self-capacitance.Here, parasitic capacitances Cp1 and Cp2 are shown as affected by CHB(the self-capacitance change caused by the human body).

Drive-sense circuits (DSC) are operable to detect the changes in selfcapacitance and/or other changes to the electrodes and interpret theirmeaning. For example, as a person moves the user input passive device95, the DSCs of the touch screen 12 interpret changes in electricalcharacteristics of the affected electrodes as a direction of movement.The direction of movement can then be interpreted as a specific userinput function (e.g., select, scroll, gaming movements/functions, etc.).

FIG. 27 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the user inputpassive device 95 interacting with the touch screen 12. In this example,the user input passive device 95 in a half spherical shape with a flattop surface. The user input passive device 95 is made of a rigidconductive material such that the user input passive device 95 retainsits shape when applied pressure. A user may rest a palm and/or a fingeron the flat top surface to maneuver the spherical shape in variousdirections in one location and/or across the touch screen 12 surface.

As shown on the left, the user input passive device 95 is used in anupright position and is affecting a plurality of electrodes on the touchscreen 12 surface. On the right, the user input passive device 95 istilted, thus, shifting the location of the plurality of affectedelectrodes. The amount of electrodes affected, the location of affectedelectrodes, the rate of the change in the location of affectedelectrodes, etc., can be interpreted as various user functions by thetouch screen 12. For example, the user input passive device 95 can beutilized as a joystick in a gaming application.

FIG. 27A is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the userinput passive device 95 interacting with the touch screen 12. In thisexample, the user input passive device 95 in a half spherical shape witha flat top surface. In comparison to FIG. 27, the half spherical shapeshown here is shorter and smaller such that the flat top surface (e.g.,the touch plate) is extends beyond the half spherical shape. The userinput passive device 95 is made of a rigid conductive material such thatthe user input passive device 95 retains its shape when appliedpressure. A user may rest a palm and/or a finger on the flat top surfaceto maneuver the spherical shape in various directions in one locationand/or across the touch screen 12 surface.

As shown on the top of FIG. 27A, the user input passive device 95 isused in an upright position and is affecting a plurality of electrodeson the touch screen 12 surface. On the bottom, the user input passivedevice 95 is tilted, thus, shifting the location of the plurality ofaffected electrodes and affecting additional electrodes with the flattop surface.

The flat top surface of the user input passive device 95 is a conductivematerial. As the user input passive device 95 is tilted, the flat topsurface affects electrodes of the touch screen 12 with an increasingaffect (e.g., a change in capacitance increases as the flat top surfacegets closer) as it approaches the surface of the touch screen 12. Assuch, an angle/tilt of the device can be interpreted by thisinformation. Further, the flat top surface in close proximity to thetouch screen 12 (e.g., a touch) can indicate any one of a variety ofuser functions by the touch screen (e.g., a selection, etc.).

FIG. 28 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the userinput passive device 95 interacting with the touch screen 12. In thisexample, the user has a palm and/or a finger on the user input passivedevice 95 but also has two fingers directly on the touch screen 12surface. For example, the user has a palm and three fingers resting onthe top surface of the user input passive device 95 and a thumb andpinky on either side of the user input passive device 95 directly on thetouch screen 12. When interaction with the user input passive device 95is detected (e.g., by detection of a region of affected electrodes, bythe type of affected electrodes (e.g., a certain self-capacitance changeis detected over a certain area, etc.) etc.), the detection of a fingertouch nearby can indicate further user functions.

For example, the user input passive device 95 is directly over a list offiles and a finger can be used on the touch screen to initiate ascrolling function. As another example, the user input passive device 95is directly over an image and placing one or two fingers on the screeninitiates a zooming function.

FIG. 29 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the userinput passive device 95 interacting with the touch screen 12. In thisexample, the user input passive device 95 includes a flexible conductivematerial such that when a touch and/or pressure is applied, the userinput passive device 95 changes shape. For example, when pressure isapplied in the center of the top of the user input passive device 95 thearea in contact with the touch screen 12 increases thus affecting moreelectrodes. As such, applying pressure can indicate any number of userinput functions (e.g., select, zoom, etc.).

FIG. 30 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of the userinput passive device 95 interacting with the touch screen 12. FIG. 30 issimilar to the example of FIG. 29 where the user input passive device 95includes a flexible conductive material such that when a touch and/orpressure is applied, the user input passive device 95 changes shape.

In this example, pressure is applied off center on the top of the userinput passive device 95. The pressure increases and shifts the area incontact with the touch screen 12 thus affecting more electrodes in adifferent location. Therefore, the shift in location as well as anincreased number of affected electrodes can indicate any number of userinput functions. For example, the user input passive device 95 can betilted forward to indicate a movement and pressure can be applied toindicate a selection.

FIGS. 31A-31G are schematic block diagrams of examples of the user inputpassive device 95. In FIG. 31A, the user input passive device 95 is ahalf-spherical shape with a flat top surface that includes a pluralityof protruding bumps or dimples for interaction with the touch screen.The entire surface may be conductive, the dimples may be conductive,and/or some combination thereof may be conductive. The pattern and sizeof the dimples can aid the touch screen 12 in detecting the user inputpassive device 95 and interpreting user input functions.

In FIG. 31B, the user input passive device 95 is a smooth,half-spherical shape with a flat top surface that includes a top handlefor ease of use by the user. The top shape of the user input passivedevice 95 can correspond to a game piece (e.g., an air hockey striker)or resemble a gaming joy stick to allow for intuitive and easy use for avariety of applications and functions.

In FIG. 31C, the user input passive device 95 is a spherical shape thatincludes a plurality of protruding bumps or dimples for interaction withthe touch screen. The entire surface may be conductive, the dimples maybe conductive, and/or some combination thereof may be conductive. Thepattern and size of the dimples can add the touch screen 12 in detectingthe user input passive device 95 and interpreting user input functions.With a full sphere, the user can roll the user input passive device 95across the touch screen with a palm.

In FIG. 31D, the user input passive device 95 is a smooth sphericalshape. In FIG. 31E, the user input passive device 95 a smooth,half-spherical shape with a flat top surface that has a conductive outershell and a hollow center.

In FIG. 31F, the user input passive device 95 is a smooth,half-spherical shape with a flat top surface that includesnon-conductive material and conductive wires in a radial pattern. InFIG. 31G, the user input passive device 95 is a smooth, half-sphericalshape with a flat top surface that includes non-conductive material andconductive wires in a circular pattern. The examples, of FIGS. 31F and31G are similar to FIGS. 31A and 31C in that the conductive wiresinteract with the touch screen 12 in a unique way and/or pattern. Theunique pattern enhances user input passive device 95 detection and userfunction recognition.

Any of the examples described in FIGS. 31A-31G may include rigid orflexible conductive material as discussed previously.

FIG. 32 is a logic diagram of an example of a method for interpretinguser input from the user input passive device. The user input passivedevice may include a conductive shell with a hollow center, a solidconductive material, a combination of conductive and non-conductivematerials, etc. The user input passive device may include a spherical,half-spherical, and/or other rounded shape for user interaction with thetouch screen. Examples of the user input passive device 95 will bediscussed further with reference to FIGS. 27-31.

The method begins with step 117 where a plurality of drive sensecircuits (DSCs) of an interactive display device transmit a plurality ofsignals on a plurality of electrodes of the interactive display device.The interactive display device includes the touch screen, which mayfurther include a personalized display area to form an interactive touchscreen.

The method continues with step 119 where a set of DSCs of the pluralityof DSCs detect a change in an electrical characteristic of a set ofelectrodes of the plurality of electrodes. For example, the self andmutual capacitance of an electrode is affected when a user input passivedevice is capacitively coupled to the interactive display device.

The method continues with step 121 where a processing module of theinteractive display device interprets the change in electricalcharacteristic to be a direction of movement caused by a user inputpassive device in close proximity to an interactive surface of theinteractive display device. For example, the change in electricalcharacteristic is an increase or decrease in self and/or mutualcapacitance by a certain amount to a certain number of electrodes thatis indicative of movement by the user input passive device.

The method continues with step 123 where the processing module of theinteractive display device interprets the direction of movement as aspecific user input function. For example, a direction of movement mayindicate a movement (e.g., in a game, with a cursor, etc.), a selection,a scroll, etc.

FIG. 33 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device 10 (e.g., shown here as an interactive tabletop) that includes the touch screen 12, which may further include apersonalized display area 18 to form an interactive touch screen display(also referred to herein as interactive surface 115). The personalizeddisplay area 18 may extend to all of the touch screen 12 or a portion asshown. When the user input passive device 88 is in contact with theinteractive surface, a digital pad 114 is generated for use with theuser input passive device 88.

The interactive display device 10 is operable to interpret user inputsreceived from the user input passive device 88 within the digital pad114 area as functions to manipulate data on the personalized displayarea 18 of the interactive display device 10. For example, moving theuser input passive device 88 within the digital pad 114 maps tomovements on the personalized display area 18 so that the user canexecute various functions within the personalized display area 18without having to move the user input passive device 88 onto thepersonalized display area 18. This is particularly useful when thepersonalized display area 18 is large, and the user cannot easily accessthe entire personalized display area.

The digital pad 114 is operable to move with the user input passivedevice 88 and is of a predetermined size and shape, a user defined sizeand shape, and/or a size and shape based on the size and shape of theuser input passive device 88. Further, the size of the digital pad 114may be determined and dynamically adjusted based on available space ofthe interactive display device 10 (e.g., where available space isdetermined based on one or more personalized display areas, detectedobjects, etc.). Moving the digital pad 114 onto the personalized displayarea 18 can cause the personalized display area 18 to adjust so that thedigital pad 114 is not obstructing the personalized display area 18.Alternatively, moving the digital pad 114 onto the personalized displayarea 18 may disable the digital pad 114 when the user intends to use theuser input passive device 88 directly on the personalized display area18. A more detailed discussion of adjusting a personalized display areabased on an obstructing object is discussed with reference to one ormore of FIGS. 36-44.

When the user input passive device 88 is in contact with the interactivesurface, a virtual keyboard 116 may also be generated for use by theuser. The virtual keyboard 116 is displayed in an area of thetouchscreen in accordance with the user input passive device 88'sposition. For example, the virtual keyboard 116 is displayed within afew inches of where the user input passive device 88 is located. Userinformation (e.g., location at the table, right handed or left, etc.)available from the user input passive device and/or user input aids inthe display of the virtual keyboard 116. For example, a user identifier(ID) (e.g., based on a particular impedance pattern) associated with theuser input passive device 88 indicates that the user is right-handed.Therefore, the virtual keyboard 116 is displayed to the left of the userinput passive device 88.

As such, use of the user input passive device 88 triggers the generationof one or more of the digital pad 114 and the virtual keyboard 116.Alternatively, a user input triggers the generation of one or more ofthe digital pad 114 and the virtual keyboard 116. For example, the userhand draws an area (e.g., or inputs a command or selection to indicategeneration of the digital pad 114 and/or the virtual keyboard 116 isdesired) on the touchscreen to be used as one or more of the digital pad114 and the virtual keyboard 116. When the digital pad 114 area istriggered without the user input passive device, the user can optionallyuse a finger and/or other capacitive device for inputting commandswithin the digital pad 114. As with the user input passive device 88,the interactive display device 10 is operable to interpret user inputsreceived within the digital pad 114 area as functions to manipulate dataon the personalized display area 18 of the interactive display device10.

As another example, a keyboard has a physical structure (e.g., a moldedsilicon membrane, a transparent board, etc.). The interactive displaydevice can recognize the physical structure as a keyboard using avariety of techniques (e.g., a frequency sweep, capacitance changes, atag, etc.) and also know its orientation (e.g., via passive devicerecognition techniques discussed previously). When the physical keyboardis recognized, the touch screen may display the virtual keyboardunderneath the transparent structure for use by the user.

The physical keyboard includes conductive elements (e.g., conductivepaint, a full conductive mechanical key structure, etc.) such thatinteraction with the conductive element by the user is interpreted as akeyboard function. For example, the keyboard is a molded siliconmembrane with conductive paint on each key. The user physically pressesdown on a key such that the conductive paint contacts the touch screen.Each key may have a different conductive paint pattern such that thetouch screen interprets each pattern as a different function (i.e., keyselection, device ID, etc.).

The touch screen of the interactive display device 10 may furtherinclude a high resolution section for biometric input (e.g., a fingerprint) from a user. The biometric input can unlock one or more functionsof the interactive display device 10. For example, inputting a fingerprint to the high resolution section may automatically display one ormore of a digital pad 114, virtual keyboard 116, and the personalizeddisplay area in accordance with that user's preferences.

FIGS. 34A-34B are schematic block diagrams of examples of digital pad114 generation on an interactive surface 115 of the interactive displaydevice. Interactive surface 115 includes touch screen 12 andpersonalized display area 18. FIG. 34A depicts an example where usingthe user input passive device 88 on the interactive surface 115 triggersgeneration of a digital pad 114 for use with the user input passivedevice 88 on the interactive surface 115. For example, setting the userinput passive device 88 on the interactive surface 115 generates thedigital pad 114. Alternatively, a user requests generation of thedigital pad 114 via an input interpreted via the user input passivedevice 88 or other user input.

The interactive display device 10 is operable to interpret user inputsreceived from the user input passive device 88 within the digital pad114 area as functions to manipulate data on the personalized displayarea 18 of the interactive display device 10. For example, moving theuser input passive device 88 around the digital pad 114 maps tomovements around the personalized display area 18 so that the user canexecute various functions within the personalized display area 18without having to move the user input passive device 88 onto thepersonalized display area 18. The digital pad 114 is operable to movewith the user input passive device 88 and is of a predetermined shapeand size, a user defined size and shape, and/or a size and shape basedon the size and shape of the user input passive device 88.

FIG. 34B depicts an example where a user input triggers the generationof the digital pad 114 for use with or without the user input passivedevice 88. For example, the user hand draws an area and/or inputs acommand or selection to indicate generation of the digital pad 114 isdesired on the interactive surface 115. When the digital pad 114 area istriggered without the user input passive device, the user can optionallyuse a finger or other capacitive device for inputting commands withinthe digital pad 114. As with the user input passive device 88, theinteractive display device 10 is operable to interpret user inputsreceived within the digital pad 114 area as functions to manipulate dataon the personalized display area 18 of the interactive display device10.

FIG. 35 is a logic diagram of an example of a method for generating adigital pad on an interactive surface of an interactive display devicefor interaction with a user input passive device. The method begins withstep 118 where a plurality of drive sense circuits (DSCs) of theinteractive display device transmit a plurality of signals on aplurality of electrodes of the interactive display device.

The method continues with step 120 where the plurality of DSCs detect achange in electrical characteristics of a set of electrodes of theplurality of electrodes. For example, the plurality of DSCs detect achange to mutual capacitance of the set of electrodes. The methodcontinues with step 122 where a processing module of the interactivedisplay device interprets the change in the electrical characteristicsof the set of electrodes to be caused by a user input passive device inclose proximity to an interactive surface of the interactive displaydevice. For example, the mutual capacitance change detected on the setof electrodes is an impedance pattern corresponding to a particular userinput passive device. User input passive device detection is discussedin more detail with reference to one or more of FIGS. 5-32.

The method continues with step 124 where the processing module generatesa digital pad on the interactive surface for interaction with the userinput passive device. The digital pad may or may not be visuallydisplayed to the user (e.g., a visual display may include an illuminatedarea designating the digital pad's area, an outline of the digital pad,a full rendering of the digital pad, etc.). The digital pad moves withthe user input passive device as the user input passive device moves onthe interactive surface of the interactive display device. The digitalpad may be of a predetermined size and shape, a size and shape based onthe size and shape of the user input passive device, a size and shapebased on a user selection, and/or a size and shape based on an availablearea of the interactive display device.

For example, available area of the interactive display device may belimited due to the size of the interactive display device, the numberand size of personalized display areas, and various objects that may beresting on and/or interacting with the interactive display device. Theinteractive display device detects an amount of available space andscales the digital pad to fit while maintaining a size that isfunctional for the user input passive device. The size of the digitalpad is dynamically adjustable based on the availability of usabledisplay area on the interactive display device.

Moving the digital pad onto a personalized display area can cause thepersonalized display area to adjust so that the digital pad is notobstructing the view of the personalized display area. A more detaileddiscussion of adjusting display areas based on obstructing objects isdisclosed with reference to one or more of FIGS. 36-44. Alternatively,moving the digital pad onto the personalized display area disables thedigital pad so that the user input passive device can be used directlyon the personalized display area.

The method continues with step 126 where the processing moduleinterprets user inputs received from the user input passive devicewithin the digital pad as functions to manipulate data on a display areaof the interactive display device. For example, moving the user inputpassive device around the digital pad maps to movements around apersonalized display area of the interactive display device so that theuser can execute various functions within the personalized display areawithout having to move the user input passive device directly onto thepersonalized display area.

The digital pad may also have additional functionality for userinteraction. For example, the digital pad may consist of different zoneswhere use of the user input passive device in one zone achieves onefunction (e.g., scrolling) and use of the user input passive device inanother zone achieves another function (e.g., selecting). The digitalpad is also operable to accept multiple inputs. For instance, the userinput passive device as well as the user's finger can be used directlyonto the digital pad for additional functionality.

In an alternative example, instead of use of the user input passivedevice triggering generation of the digital pad, a user input cantrigger the generation of the digital pad. For example, a user can handdraw an area and/or input a command or selection to indicate generationof the digital pad on the interactive surface of the interactive displaydevice. When the digital pad is triggered without the user input passivedevice, the user can optionally use a finger or other capacitive devicefor inputting commands within the digital pad. As with the user inputpassive device, the interactive display device is operable to interpretuser inputs received within the digital pad area as functions tomanipulate data on the personalized display area of the interactivedisplay device.

Generation of the digital pad can additionally trigger the generation ofa virtual keyboard. When the user input passive device triggers thedigital pad, the virtual keyboard is displayed in an area of theinteractive surface in accordance with the user input passive device'sposition. For example, the virtual keyboard is displayed within a fewinches of where the user input passive device is located. Userinformation (e.g., user location at a table, right handed or lefthanded, etc.) available from the user input passive device or other userinput aids in the display of the virtual keyboard. For example, a useridentifier (ID) (e.g., based on a particular impedance pattern)associated with the user input passive device indicates that the user isright handed. Therefore, the virtual keyboard is displayed to the leftof the user input passive device.

Alternatively, a user input triggers the generation of the virtualkeyboard. For example, the user hand draws the digital pad and thedigital pad triggers generation of the virtual keyboard or the user handdraws and/or inputs a command or selection to indicate generation of thevirtual keyboard on the interactive surface.

FIG. 36 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device 10 that includes the touch screen 12, whichmay further include a personalized display area 18 to form interactivesurface 115. The personalized display area 18 may extend to all of thetouch screen 12 or a portion as shown. The interactive display device 10is shown here as an interactive table top that has interactivefunctionality (i.e., a user is able to interact with the table top viathe interactive surface 115) and non-interactive functionality (i.e.,the interactive table top serves as a standard table top surface forsupporting various objects).

In this example, the interactive display device 10 has three objects onits surface: a non-interactive and obstructing object 128 (e.g., acoffee mug), a non-interactive and non-obstructing object 130 (e.g., awater bottle), and a user input passive device 88. In contrast to theuser input passive device 88 which the interactive display device 10recognizes as an interactive object (e.g., via a detected impedancepattern, etc.) as discussed previously, the non-interactive objects 128and 130 are not recognized as items that the interactive display device10 should interact with. The non-interactive and obstructing object 128is an obstructing object because it is obstructing at least a portion ofthe personalized display area 18. The non-interactive andnon-obstructing object 130 is a non-obstructing obstructing objectbecause it is not obstructing at least a portion of the personalizeddisplay area 18.

The interactive display device 10 detects non-interactive objects via avariety of methods. For example, the interactive display device 10detects a two-dimensional (2D) shape of an object based on capacitiveimaging (e.g., the object causes changes to mutual capacitance of theelectrodes in the interactive surface 115 with no change toself-capacitance as there is no path to ground). For example, aprocessing module of the interactive display device 10 recognizes mutualcapacitance change to a set of electrodes in the interactive surface 115and a positioning of the set of electrodes (e.g., a cluster ofelectrodes are affected in a circular area) that indicates an object ispresent.

As another example, the interactive display device 10 implements afrequency scanning technique to recognize a specific frequency of anobject and/or a material of an object and further sense athree-dimensional (3D) shape of an object. The interactive displaydevice 10 may implement deep learning and classification techniques toidentify objects based on known shapes, frequencies, and/or capacitiveimaging properties.

As another example, the interactive display device 10 detects a taggedobject. For example, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag can beused to transmit information about an object to the interactive displaydevice 10. For example, the object is a product for sale and theinteractive display device 10 is a product display table at a retailstore. A retailer tags the product such that placing the product on thetable causes the table to recognize the object and further displayinformation pertaining to the product. One or more sensors may beincorporated into an RFID tag to convey various information to theinteractive display device 10 (e.g., temperature, weight, moisture,etc.). For example, the interactive display device 10 is a dining tableat a restaurant and temperature and/or weight sensor RFID tags are usedon plates, coffee mugs, etc. to alert staff to cold and/or finished foodand drink, etc.

As another example, an impedance pattern tag can be used to identify anobject and/or convey information about an object to the interactivedisplay device 10. For example, an impedance pattern tag has a patternof conductive pads that when placed on the bottom of objects isdetectable by the interactive display device 10 (e.g., the conductivepads affect mutual capacitance of electrodes of the interactive displaydevice 10 in a recognizable pattern). The impedance pattern can alertthe interactive display device 10 that an object is present and/orconvey other information pertaining to the object (e.g., physicalcharacteristics of the object, an object identification (ID), etc.). Assuch, tagging (e.g., via RFID, impedance pattern, etc.) can change anon-interactive object into an interactive object.

As another example of an interactive object, a light pipe is a passivedevice that implements optical and capacitive coupling in order toextend the touch and display properties of the interactive displaydevice beyond its surface. For example, a light pipe is a cylindricalglass that is recognizable to the interactive display device (e.g., viaa tag, capacitive imaging, dielectric sensing, etc.) and may furtherinclude conductive and/or dielectric properties such that a user cantouch the surface of the light pipe and convey functions to the touchscreen. When placed on the interactive display device over an imageintended for display, the light pipe is operable to display the imagewith a projected image/3-dimensional effect. The user can then interactwith the projected image using the touch sense properties of touchscreen via the light pipe.

When a non-interactive object and obstructing object 128 is detected bythe interactive display device 10, the interactive display device 10 isoperable to adjust the personalized display area 18 based on a positionof a user such that the object is no longer obstructing the personalizeddisplay area 18. Examples of adjusting the personalized display area 18such that an obstructing object is no longer obstructing thepersonalized display area 18 are discussed with reference to FIGS.37A-37D.

FIGS. 37A-37D are schematic block diagrams of examples of adjusting apersonalized display area 18 such that an obstructing object 128 is nolonger obstructing the personalized display area 18. The interactivesurface 115 of the interactive display device 10 (e.g., of FIG. 36)detects a two-dimensional shape of an object via one of the methodsdiscussed with reference to FIG. 36. For example, an object changesmutual capacitance in electrodes of the interactive surface 115 suchthat the interactive surface 115 develops a capacitive image of theobject. Because the personalized display area 18 is oriented toward aparticular user, this known orientation is used to adjust thepersonalized display area with respect to the user's view. In theexamples of FIGS. 37A-37D, the adjusting is done assuming a user islooking straight across from or straight down at the personalizeddisplay area 18. Generating personalized display areas according to userorientations are discussed with more detail in reference to FIGS. 45-48.

In FIG. 37A, an obstructing object 128 (e.g., the coffee mug of FIG. 36)is detected and the personalized display area 18 is shifted over tocreate an adjusted display 132 such that the obstructing object 128 isno longer obstructing the personalized display area 18. Adjusting thepersonalized display area 18 also includes determining available displayspace of the interactive display device 10. For example, when there islimited available space (e.g., other objects and personalized displayareas are detected) the personalized display area 18 may be adjustedsuch that the adjusted personalized display area 18 takes up less space.

For example, in FIG. 37B, the obstructing object 128 is detected and thepersonalized display area 18 wraps around the obstructing object 128 tocreate the adjusted display 132. The type of adjustment may also dependon the type of data that is displayed in the personalized display area18. For example, if the personalized display area 18 displays a worddocument consisting of text, the best adjustment may be the example ofFIG. 37A so that the text displays correctly.

In FIG. 37C, the obstructing object 128 is detected and the personalizeddisplay area 18 is broken into three display windows where displaywindow 2 is shifted over such that the obstructing object 128 is nolonger obstructing the personalized display area 18. In FIG. 37D, theobstructing object 128 is detected and the personalized display area 18is broken into three display windows to create adjusted display 132where display windows 2 and 3 are shifted over such that the obstructingobject 128 is no longer obstructing the personalized display area 18.

FIG. 38 is a logic diagram of an example of a method of adjusting apersonalized display area based on detected obstructing objects. Themethod begins with step 134 where a plurality of drive sense circuits(DSCs) of an interactive display device (e.g., an interactive table topsuch as a dining table, coffee table, end table, etc.) transmit aplurality of signals on a plurality of electrodes of the interactivedisplay device (e.g., where the electrodes include one or more of wiretrace, diamond pattern, capacitive sense plates, etc.).

The method continues with step 136 where a set of DSCs of the pluralityof DSCs detect a change in an electrical characteristic of a set ofelectrodes of the plurality of electrodes. The method continues withstep 138 where a processing module of the interactive display devicedetermines that the change in the electrical characteristic of the setof electrodes is a change in mutual capacitance. The method continueswith step 140 where the processing module determines a two-dimensionalshape of an object based on the change in mutual capacitance of the setof electrodes and based on positioning of the set of electrodes (e.g., acluster of electrodes are affected in a circular area).

The method continues with step 142 where the processing moduledetermines whether the two dimensional shape of the object isobstructing at least a portion of a personalized display area of theinteractive display device. When the object is obstructing the at leastthe portion of the personalized display area of the interactive displaydevice, the method continues with step 144 where the processing moduledetermines a position of a user of the personalized display area. Forexample, the personalized display area is oriented toward a particularuser. Therefore, the processing module assumes a user is lookingstraight across from or straight down at the personalized display areafrom that known orientation.

The method continues with step 146 where the processing module adjustspositioning of at least a portion of the personalized display area basedon the position of the user and the two-dimensional shape, such that theobject is no longer obstructing the at least the portion of thepersonalized display area. For example, the personalized display area isadjusted to create an adjusted display as in one or more of the examplesdescribed in FIGS. 37A-37D.

As another example, if the detected obstructing object is larger than orsmaller than a certain size, the processing module can choose to ignorethe item (e.g., for a certain period) and not adjust the personalizeddisplay area. For example, a briefcase is placed on the interactivedisplay device entirely obstructing the personalized display area 18.Instead of adjusting the personalized display area 18 when the object isdetected, the user is given a certain amount of time to move the item.

FIG. 39 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device 10 that includes the touch screen 12, whichmay further include a personalized display area 18 to form aninteractive surface 115. The personalized display area 18 may extend toall of the touch screen 12 or a portion as shown. The interactivedisplay device 10 is shown here as an interactive table top that hasinteractive functionality (i.e., a user is able to interact with thetable top via the interactive surface 115) and non-interactivefunctionality (i.e., the interactive table top serves as a standardtable top surface for supporting various objects). The interactivedisplay device 10 further includes an array of embedded cameras 154facing outward from a border of the interactive display device 10separate from the interactive surface 115 (e.g., not incorporated into atop or bottom surface of the interactive display device 10).

In this example, a user is seated at the interactive display device 10such that the user has line(s) of sight 148 to a personalized displayarea 18 on the interactive surface 115. The interactive display device10 detects a non-interactive and obstructing object 128 (e.g., a coffeemug) in any method described with reference to FIG. 36 (e.g., capacitiveimaging). The detection provides the obstructing object'stwo-dimensional (2D) obstructing area 150. The methods discussed withreference to FIG. 36 can determine three-dimensional (3D)characteristics of an object (e.g., via frequency scanning,classification, deep learning, and/or tagging, etc.). However, theobstructing object's 3D obstructing area 152 changes based on the user'slines of sight 148 to the personalized display area 18. The user's lineof sight 148 changes based on the height of the user, whether the useris sitting or standing, a position of the user (e.g., whether the useris leaning onto the table top or sitting back in a chair), etc.

Here, the user is shown sitting straight up in a chair and lookingdirectly down at the personalized display area 18 such that theobstructing object 128 is between the lines of sight 148 and thepersonalized display area 18. Thus, the obstructing object's 3Dobstructing area 152 is a small shadow behind the obstructing object128. In order to gain information regarding a user's line(s) of sight,the interactive display device 10 includes an array of embedded cameras154. Image data from the embedded cameras 154 is analyzed to determine aposition of the user with respect to the personalized display area 18,an estimated height of the user, whether the user is sitting orstanding, etc. The image data is then used to determine the obstructingobject's 3D obstructing area 152 in order to adjust the personalizeddisplay area 18 accordingly.

FIG. 40 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device 10 that includes a core control module 40,one or more processing modules 42, one or more main memories 44, cachememory 46, a video graphics processing module 48, a display 50, anInput-Output (I/O) peripheral control module 52, one or more inputinterface modules, one or more output interface modules, one or morenetwork interface modules 60, one or more memory interface modules 62,an image processing module 158, and a camera array 156.

The interactive display device 10 operates similarly to the example ofFIG. 2 except the interactive display device 10 of FIG. 40 includes theimage processing module 158 and the camera array 156. The camera array156 includes a plurality of embedded cameras. The cameras are embeddedin a portion of the interactive display device 10 to capture imagessurrounding the interactive display device 10. For example, theinteractive display device 10 is an interactive table top (e.g., acoffee table, a dining table, etc.) and the cameras are embedded into astructural side perimeter/border of the table (e.g., not embedded intothe interactive surface of the interactive display device 10).

The cameras of the camera array 156 are small and may be motionactivated such that when a user approaches the interactive displaydevice 10, the cameras activated by the motion capture a series ofimages of the user. Alternatively, the cameras of the camera array 156may capture images at predetermined intervals and/or in response to acommand. The camera array 156 is coupled to the image processing module158 and communicates captured images to the image processing module 158.The image processing module 158 processes the captured images todetermine user characteristics (e.g., height, etc.) and positionalinformation (e.g., seated, standing, distance, etc.) at the interactivedisplay device 10 and sends the information to the core module 40 forfurther processing.

The image processing module 158 is coupled to the core module 40 wherethe core module 40 processes data communications between the imageprocessing module 158, processing modules 42, and video graphicsprocessing module 48. For example, the processing modules 42 detects atwo dimensional object is obstructing a personalized display area 18 ofthe interactive display device 10. The user characteristics and/orpositional information from image processing module 158 are used tofurther determine a three-dimensional obstructed area of thepersonalized display area 18 where the processing modules 42 and videographics processing module 48 can produce an adjusted personalizeddisplay area based on the three-dimensional obstructed area for displayto the user accordingly.

FIG. 41 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device 10 that includes the touch screen 12, whichmay further include a personalized display area 18 to form aninteractive surface 115. FIG. 41 is similar to the example of FIG. 39except that a taller non-interactive and obstructing object 160 isdepicted (e.g., a water bottle) on the interactive surface 115. Incomparison to FIG. 39, the obstructing object's two dimensional (2D)obstructing area 162 is approximately the same however the obstructingobject's three dimensional (3D) obstructing area 164 is much larger dueto the height of the obstructing object 160.

The object detection methods discussed with reference to FIG. 36 candetermine 3D characteristics of an object 160 (e.g., via frequencyscanning, classification, deep learning, and/or tagging, etc.). Once 3Dcharacteristics are determined, an estimation of the obstructingobject's 3D obstructing area 164 can be determined based on a predicteduser orientation to the personalized display area 18. However, a moreaccurate obstructing object 3D obstructing area 164 can be determined bydetermining the user's line of sight 148 to the personalized displayarea 18 based on image data captured by the embedded cameras 154. Forexample, the image data can show that the user is sitting off to theside of the personalized display area 18 looking down such that theobstructing object 160 is directly between the user's line of sight 148and the personalized display area 18.

FIG. 42 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device 10 that includes the touch screen 12, whichmay further include a personalized display area 18 to form aninteractive surface 115. FIG. 42 is similar to FIG. 41 except that theuser is now standing at the interactive display device 10 instead ofsitting. In comparison to FIG. 41, the obstructing object's twodimensional (2D) obstructing area 162 is approximately the same howeverthe obstructing object's three dimensional (3D) obstructing area 164 isnow much smaller due to the user's improved line of sight 148 to thepersonalized display area 18.

Therefore, FIG. 42 illustrates that to determine an accurate obstructingobject 3D obstructing area 164, a user's line of sight 148 to thepersonalized display area 18 needs to be determined (e.g., by capturingimage data by the embedded cameras 154 for analysis).

FIGS. 43A-43E are schematic block diagrams of examples of adjusting apersonalized display area 18 such that an obstructing object'stwo-dimensional (2D) obstructing area and three-dimensional (3D)obstructing area (e.g., obstructing object's 2D obstructing area 162 andobstructing object's 3D obstructing area 164 of FIG. 42) are no longerobstructing the personalized display area 18.

In FIG. 43A, the interactive surface 115 detects a 2D and/or 3D shape ofan object via one of the methods discussed previously. For example, anobject changes mutual capacitance in electrodes of the interactivesurface 115 such that the interactive surface 115 develops a 2Dcapacitive image of the object. The interactive surface 115 alsoprocesses image data captured by a camera array to determine an accurate3D obstructing area based on a user's line of sight, usercharacteristics, and/or other user positional information. Thepersonalized display area 18 is then adjusted accordingly.

In FIG. 43B, the obstructing object's 2D obstructing area 162 and theobstructing object's 3D obstructing area 164 are detected and thepersonalized display area 18 is shifted over to create an adjusteddisplay 132 such that the obstructing object's 2D obstructing area 162and the obstructing object's 3D obstructing area 164 are no longerobstructing the personalized display area 18. Adjusting the personalizeddisplay area 18 also includes determining available display space of theinteractive display device 10. For example, when there is limitedavailable space (e.g., other objects and personalized display areas aredetected) the personalized display area 18 may be adjusted in a way thattakes up less space on the interactive surface 115.

For example, in FIG. 43C, the obstructing object's 2D obstructing area162 and the obstructing object's 3D obstructing area 164 are detectedand the personalized display area 18 wraps around the obstructingobject's 2D obstructing area 162 and the obstructing object's 3Dobstructing area 164 to create an adjusted display 132. The type ofadjustment may also depend on the type of data that is displayed in thepersonalized display area 18. For example, if the personalized displayarea 18 displays a word document consisting of text, the best adjustmentmay be the example of FIG. 43B so that the text displays correctly.

In FIG. 43D, the obstructing object's 2D obstructing area 162 and theobstructing object's 3D obstructing area 164 are detected and thepersonalized display area 18 is broken into three display windows wheredisplay window 2 is shifted over such that the obstructing object's 2Dobstructing area 162 and the obstructing object's 3D obstructing area164 are no longer obstructing the personalized display area 18.

In FIG. 43E, the obstructing object's 2D obstructing area 162 and theobstructing object's 3D obstructing area 164 are detected and thepersonalized display area 18 is broken into three display windows tocreate an adjusted display 132 where display windows 2 and 3 are shiftedover such that the obstructing object's 2D obstructing area 162 and theobstructing object's 3D obstructing area 164 are no longer obstructingthe personalized display area 18.

FIG. 44 is a logic diagram of an example of a method of adjusting apersonalized display area based on a three-dimensional shape of anobject. The method begins with step 166 where a plurality of drive sensecircuits (DSCs) of an interactive display device (e.g., an interactivetable top such as a dining table, coffee table, end table, etc.)transmit a plurality of signals on a plurality of electrodes of theinteractive display device (e.g., where the electrodes may be wiretrace, diamond pattern, capacitive sense plates, etc.).

The method continues with step 168 where a set of DSCs of the pluralityof DSCs detect a change in an electrical characteristic of a set ofelectrodes of the plurality of electrodes. The method continues withstep 170 where a processing module of the interactive display devicedetermines that the change in the electrical characteristic of the setof electrodes is a change in mutual capacitance.

The method continues with step 172 where the processing moduledetermines a three-dimensional shape of an object based on the change inmutual capacitance of the set of electrodes (e.g., 2D capacitiveimaging), based on positioning of the set of electrodes (e.g., a clusterof electrodes are affected in a circular area), and one or morethree-dimensional shape identification techniques.

The one or more three-dimensional shape identification techniquesinclude one or more of: frequency scanning, classification and deeplearning, image data collected from a camera array of the interactivedisplay device indicating line of sight of a user to the personalizeddisplay area (e.g., based on position, distance, height of user, etc.),and an identifying tag (e.g., an RFID tag, an impedance pattern tag,etc.).

The method continues with step 174 where the processing moduledetermines whether the three-dimensional shape of the object isobstructing at least a portion of a personalized display area of theinteractive display device. When the three-dimensional shape of theobject is obstructing the at least the portion of the personalizeddisplay area of the interactive display device, the method continueswith step 176 where the processing module determines a position of auser of the personalized display area. For example, the personalizeddisplay area is oriented toward a particular user with a knownorientation. Therefore, the processing module assumes a user is lookingstraight across from or straight down at the personalized display area.As another example, image data collected from a camera array of theinteractive display device indicates a more accurate position of a userincluding a line of sight of a user to the personalized display area(e.g., based on user position, distance, height, etc.).

The method continues with step 178 where the processing module adjustspositioning of at least a portion of the personalized display area basedon the position of the user and the three-dimensional shape, such thatthe object is no longer obstructing the at least the portion of thepersonalized display area. For example, the personalized display area isadjusted to create an adjusted display as in one or more of the examplesdescribed in FIGS. 43A-43E.

As another example, if the detected obstructing three-dimensional objectis larger than or smaller than a certain size, the processing module canchoose to ignore the item (e.g., for a certain period) and not adjustthe personalized display area. For example, a briefcase is placed on theinteractive display device entirely obstructing the personalized displayarea 18. Instead of adjusting the personalized display area 18 when theobject is detected, the user is given a certain amount of time to movethe item.

FIG. 45 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device 10 that includes the touch screen 12, whichfurther includes multiple personalized display areas 18 (e.g., displays1-4) corresponding to multiple users (e.g., users 1-4) to form asinteractive surface 115. In this example, interactive display device 10is an interactive table top (e.g., a dining table, coffee table, largegaming table, etc.).

Users 1-4 are each associated with a particular frequency (e.g., f1-f4).For example, users 1-4 are sitting in chairs around the interactivedisplay device 10 where each chair includes a pressure sensor to sensewhen the chair is occupied. When occupancy is detected, a sinusoidalsignal with a frequency (e.g., f1-f4) is sent to the interactive displaydevice 10. The chair may be in a fixed position (e.g., a booth seat at arestaurant) such that the signal corresponds to a particular position onthe interactive display device 10 having a particular orientation withrespect to the user. When f1-f4 are detected, the interactive displaydevice 10 is operable to automatically generate personalized displayareas (e.g., displays 1-4) of an appropriate size and in accordance withuser 1-4's detected positions and orientations. Alternatively, whenf1-f4 are detected, the interactive display device 10 is operable toprovide users 1-4 various personalized display area options (e.g., eachuser is able to select his or her own desired orientation, size, etc.,of the display).

As another example, one or more of users 1-4 may be associated with auser device (e.g., a user input passive device, an active device, a gamepiece, a wristband, a card, a device that can be attached to an articleof clothing/accessory, etc.) that transmits a frequency or is otherwiseassociated with a frequency (e.g., a resonant frequency of a user inputpassive device is detectable) when used on and/or near the interactivedisplay device 10. When the particular frequency is detected, theinteractive display device 10 is operable to automatically generate apersonalized display area in accordance with a corresponding user'sdetected position and orientation. For example, a user's position andorientation are assumed from a detected location of the user device.

As another example, interactive display device 10 includes one or morecameras, antennas, and/or other sensors (e.g., infrared, ultrasound,etc.) for sensing a user's presence at the interactive display device.Based on user image data and/or assumptions from sensed data (e.g., viaone or more antennas), the interactive display device 10 assigns afrequency to a user and automatically generates personalized displayareas of an appropriate size, positions, and orientation for each user.

As another example, the interactive display device 10 generatespersonalized display areas of an appropriate size, positions, andorientation based on a user input (e.g., a particular gesture, command,a hand drawn area, etc.) that indicates generation of a personalizeddisplay area is desired. Alternatively, or in addition to, theinteractive display device 10 is operable to track the range of a user'stouches to estimate and display an appropriate personalized display areaand/or make other assumptions about the user (e.g., size, position,location, dominant hand usage, etc.). The personalized display area canbe automatically adjusted based on continual user touch tracking.

In all of the examples above, the interactive display device 10 isoperable to determine the overall available display area of theinteractive display device 10 and generate and/or adjust personalizeddisplay areas accordingly. As a specific example, if another user (e.g.,user 5) were to join the interactive display device 10 in a chair to theright of user 1, user 2 and 4's personalized display areas may reduce inheight due to display 1 moving towards display 2 and the addition ofdisplay 5 moving toward display 4. Alternatively, user 2 and 4'spersonalized display areas may shift over to accommodate the additionaldisplay without reducing in height.

FIG. 46 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device 10 that includes the touch screen 12, whichfurther includes multiple personalized display areas 18 (e.g., displays1 and 2) corresponding to multiple users (e.g., users 1 and 2) to forman interactive surface 115. In this example, interactive display device10 is an interactive table top (e.g., a dining table, coffee table,large gaming table, etc.).

In this example, user 1 is associated with an identifying user device(e.g., identifying game piece 1) that transmits a frequency f1 or isotherwise associated with a frequency f1 (e.g., a resonant frequency ofa user input passive device is detectable) that is detectable by theinteractive display device 10 when used on and/or near the interactivedisplay device 10. User 2 is associated with an identifying user device(e.g., identifying game piece 2) that transmits a frequency f2 or isotherwise associated with a frequency f2 (e.g., a resonant frequency ofa user input passive device is detectable) that is detectable byinteractive display device 10 when used on and/or near the interactivedisplay device 10.

When frequencies f1 and f2 are detected, the interactive display device10 automatically generates a personalized display area (display 1) inaccordance with user 1's detected position and orientation and apersonalized display area (display 2) in accordance with user 2'sdetected position and orientation. For example, a user 1 and 2'spositions and orientations are assumed from the detected location ofeach user device. In addition to generating personalized display areasof appropriate size and orientation based on sensing frequencies f1 andf2, the interactive display device 10 is further operable to generatepersonalized display areas in accordance with a game or otherapplication triggered by frequencies f1 and f2. For example, identifyinggame pieces 1 and 2 are air hockey strikers that, when used on theinteractive display device 10, generate an air hockey table for use bythe two players (users 1 and 2).

FIG. 47 is a schematic block diagram of another embodiment of theinteractive display device 10 that includes the touch screen 12, whichfurther includes multiple personalized display areas 18 (e.g., displays1, 1-1, 2 and 3) corresponding to multiple users (e.g., users 1-3) toform interactive surface 115. In this example, interactive displaydevice 10 is an interactive table top (e.g., a dining table, coffeetable, large gaming table, etc.).

Users 1 and 3 are located on the same side of the interactive displaydevice 10. Personalized display areas display 1 and display 3 aregenerated based on detecting a particular frequency associated withusers 1 and 3 (e.g., generated by sitting in a chair, associated with aparticular user device, etc.) and/or sensing user 1 and/or user 2'spresence at the table via cameras, antennas, and/or sensors in theinteractive display device 10. The interactive display device 10 scalesand positions display 1 and display 2 in accordance with available spacedetected on the interactive display device 10.

User 2 hand draws a hand drawn display area 180 (display 2) on a portionof available space of the interactive display device and user 1 handdraws a hand drawn display area 182 (display 1-1) on a portion of theinteractive display device near display 1. User 1 has one personalizeddisplay area (display 1) that was automatically generated and onepersonalized display area (display 1-1) that was user input generated.User 2's hand drawn display area 180 depicts an example where thedisplay is a unique shape created by the user. Based on how the displayarea is hand drawn, an orientation is determined. For example, a righthanded user may initiate drawing from a lower left corner.Alternatively, the user selects a correct orientation for the hand drawndisplay area. As another example, a user orientation is determined basedon imaging or sensed data from one or more cameras, antenna, and/orsensors of the interactive display device 10.

If a user generated display area overlaps with unavailable space of theinteractive display device, the display area can be rejected,auto-scaled to an available area, and/or display areas on theunavailable space can scale to accommodate the new display area.

FIG. 48 is a logic diagram of an example of a method of generating apersonalized display area on an interactive display device. The methodbegins with step 184 where a plurality of drive sense circuits (DSCs) ofan interactive display device (e.g., an interactive table top such as adining table, coffee table, end table, gaming table, etc.) transmit aplurality of signals on a plurality of electrodes (e.g., wire trace,diamond pattern, capacitive sense plates, etc.) of the interactivedisplay device.

The method continues with step 186 where a set of DSCs of the pluralityof DSCs detect a change in an electrical characteristic of a set ofelectrodes of the plurality of electrodes. The method continues withstep 188 where a processing module of the interactive display devicedetermines that the change in the electrical characteristic of the setof electrodes to be caused by a user of the interactive display devicein close proximity (i.e., in contact with or near contact) to aninteractive surface of the interactive display device.

For example, a user is sitting in a chair at the interactive displaydevice where the chair includes a pressure sensor to sense when thechair is occupied. When occupied, the chair to conveys a sinusoidalsignal including a frequency to the interactive display device alertingthe interactive display device to a user's presence, location, andlikely orientation. The chair may be in a fixed position (e.g., a boothseat at a restaurant) such that the signal corresponds to a particularposition on the interactive display device having a particularorientation with respect to the user.

As another example, a user may be associated with a user device (e.g.,user input passive device, an active device, a game piece, a wristband,etc.) that transmits a frequency or is otherwise associated with afrequency (e.g., a resonant frequency of a user input passive device isdetectable) that is detectable by the interactive display device whenused on and/or near the interactive display device.

As another example, the interactive display device includes one or morecameras and/or antennas for sensing a user's presence at the interactivedisplay device. As yet another example, a user inputs a command to theinteractive display device to alert the interactive display device tothe user's presence, position, etc.

The method continues with step 190 where the processing moduledetermines a position of the user based on the change in the electricalcharacteristics of the set of electrodes. For example, the chair sendingthe frequency is in a fixed position (e.g., a booth seat at arestaurant) that corresponds to a particular position on the interactivedisplay device having a particular orientation with respect to the user.As another example, the user's position and orientation are assumed froma detected location of a user device. As another example, the user'sposition and orientation are detected from imaging and/or sensed datafrom the one or more cameras, antennas and/or sensors of the interactivedisplay device. As a further example, a user input indicates a positionand/or orientation of a personalized display area (e.g., a directcommand, information obtained from the way a display area is hand drawn,location of the user input, etc.).

The method continues with step 192 where the processing moduledetermines an available display area of the interactive display device.For example, the processing module detects whether there are objectsand/or personalized display areas taking up space on the interactivesurface of the interactive display device.

The method continues with step 194 where the processing module generatesa personalized display area within the available display area based onthe position of the user. For example, the interactive display deviceautomatically generates a personalized display area of an appropriatesize, position, and orientation based on the position of the user (e.g.,determined by a particular frequency, device, user input, sensed data,image data, etc.) and the available space. Alternatively, when a user isdetected, the processing module is operable to provide the user withvarious personalized display area options (e.g., a user is able toselect his or her own desired orientation, size, etc., of thepersonalized display area).

It is noted that terminologies as may be used herein such as bit stream,stream, signal sequence, etc. (or their equivalents) have been usedinterchangeably to describe digital information whose contentcorresponds to any of a number of desired types (e.g., data, video,speech, text, graphics, audio, etc. any of which may generally bereferred to as ‘data’).

As may be used herein, the terms “substantially” and “approximately”provide an industry-accepted tolerance for its corresponding term and/orrelativity between items. For some industries, an industry-acceptedtolerance is less than one percent and, for other industries, theindustry-accepted tolerance is 10 percent or more. Other examples ofindustry-accepted tolerance range from less than one percent to fiftypercent. Industry-accepted tolerances correspond to, but are not limitedto, component values, integrated circuit process variations, temperaturevariations, rise and fall times, thermal noise, dimensions, signalingerrors, dropped packets, temperatures, pressures, material compositions,and/or performance metrics. Within an industry, tolerance variances ofaccepted tolerances may be more or less than a percentage level (e.g.,dimension tolerance of less than +/−1%). Some relativity between itemsmay range from a difference of less than a percentage level to a fewpercent. Other relativity between items may range from a difference of afew percent to magnitude of differences.

As may also be used herein, the term(s) “configured to”, “operablycoupled to”, “coupled to”, and/or “coupling” includes direct couplingbetween items and/or indirect coupling between items via an interveningitem (e.g., an item includes, but is not limited to, a component, anelement, a circuit, and/or a module) where, for an example of indirectcoupling, the intervening item does not modify the information of asignal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or powerlevel. As may further be used herein, inferred coupling (i.e., where oneelement is coupled to another element by inference) includes direct andindirect coupling between two items in the same manner as “coupled to”.

As may even further be used herein, the term “configured to”, “operableto”, “coupled to”, or “operably coupled to” indicates that an itemincludes one or more of power connections, input(s), output(s), etc., toperform, when activated, one or more its corresponding functions and mayfurther include inferred coupling to one or more other items. As maystill further be used herein, the term “associated with”, includesdirect and/or indirect coupling of separate items and/or one item beingembedded within another item.

As may be used herein, the term “compares favorably”, indicates that acomparison between two or more items, signals, etc., provides a desiredrelationship. For example, when the desired relationship is that signal1 has a greater magnitude than signal 2, a favorable comparison may beachieved when the magnitude of signal 1 is greater than that of signal 2or when the magnitude of signal 2 is less than that of signal 1. As maybe used herein, the term “compares unfavorably”, indicates that acomparison between two or more items, signals, etc., fails to providethe desired relationship.

As may be used herein, one or more claims may include, in a specificform of this generic form, the phrase “at least one of a, b, and c” orof this generic form “at least one of a, b, or c”, with more or lesselements than “a”, “b”, and “c”. In either phrasing, the phrases are tobe interpreted identically. In particular, “at least one of a, b, and c”is equivalent to “at least one of a, b, or c” and shall mean a, b,and/or c. As an example, it means: “a” only, “b” only, “c” only, “a” and“b”, “a” and “c”, “b” and “c”, and/or “a”, “b”, and “c”.

As may also be used herein, the terms “processing module”, “processingcircuit”, “processor”, “processing circuitry”, and/or “processing unit”may be a single processing device or a plurality of processing devices.Such a processing device may be a microprocessor, micro-controller,digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, fieldprogrammable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logiccircuitry, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device thatmanipulates signals (analog and/or digital) based on hard coding of thecircuitry and/or operational instructions. The processing module,module, processing circuit, processing circuitry, and/or processing unitmay be, or further include, memory and/or an integrated memory element,which may be a single memory device, a plurality of memory devices,and/or embedded circuitry of another processing module, module,processing circuit, processing circuitry, and/or processing unit. Such amemory device may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatilememory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flashmemory, cache memory, and/or any device that stores digital information.Note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit,processing circuitry, and/or processing unit includes more than oneprocessing device, the processing devices may be centrally located(e.g., directly coupled together via a wired and/or wireless busstructure) or may be distributedly located (e.g., cloud computing viaindirect coupling via a local area network and/or a wide area network).Further note that if the processing module, module, processing circuit,processing circuitry and/or processing unit implements one or more ofits functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry,and/or logic circuitry, the memory and/or memory element storing thecorresponding operational instructions may be embedded within, orexternal to, the circuitry comprising the state machine, analogcircuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. Still further notethat, the memory element may store, and the processing module, module,processing circuit, processing circuitry and/or processing unitexecutes, hard coded and/or operational instructions corresponding to atleast some of the steps and/or functions illustrated in one or more ofthe Figures. Such a memory device or memory element can be included inan article of manufacture.

One or more embodiments have been described above with the aid of methodsteps illustrating the performance of specified functions andrelationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functionalbuilding blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined hereinfor convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences canbe defined so long as the specified functions and relationships areappropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences arethus within the scope and spirit of the claims. Further, the boundariesof these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined forconvenience of description. Alternate boundaries could be defined aslong as the certain significant functions are appropriately performed.Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also have been arbitrarily definedherein to illustrate certain significant functionality.

To the extent used, the flow diagram block boundaries and sequence couldhave been defined otherwise and still perform the certain significantfunctionality. Such alternate definitions of both functional buildingblocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences are thus within the scopeand spirit of the claims. One of average skill in the art will alsorecognize that the functional building blocks, and other illustrativeblocks, modules and components herein, can be implemented as illustratedor by discrete components, application specific integrated circuits,processors executing appropriate software and the like or anycombination thereof.

In addition, a flow diagram may include a “start” and/or “continue”indication. The “start” and “continue” indications reflect that thesteps presented can optionally be incorporated in or otherwise used inconjunction with one or more other routines. In addition, a flow diagrammay include an “end” and/or “continue” indication. The “end” and/or“continue” indications reflect that the steps presented can end asdescribed and shown or optionally be incorporated in or otherwise usedin conjunction with one or more other routines. In this context, “start”indicates the beginning of the first step presented and may be precededby other activities not specifically shown. Further, the “continue”indication reflects that the steps presented may be performed multipletimes and/or may be succeeded by other activities not specificallyshown. Further, while a flow diagram indicates a particular ordering ofsteps, other orderings are likewise possible provided that theprinciples of causality are maintained.

The one or more embodiments are used herein to illustrate one or moreaspects, one or more features, one or more concepts, and/or one or moreexamples. A physical embodiment of an apparatus, an article ofmanufacture, a machine, and/or of a process may include one or more ofthe aspects, features, concepts, examples, etc. described with referenceto one or more of the embodiments discussed herein. Further, from figureto figure, the embodiments may incorporate the same or similarly namedfunctions, steps, modules, etc. that may use the same or differentreference numbers and, as such, the functions, steps, modules, etc. maybe the same or similar functions, steps, modules, etc. or differentones.

While the transistors in the above described figure(s) is/are shown asfield effect transistors (FETs), as one of ordinary skill in the artwill appreciate, the transistors may be implemented using any type oftransistor structure including, but not limited to, bipolar, metal oxidesemiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFET), N-well transistors,P-well transistors, enhancement mode, depletion mode, and zero voltagethreshold (VT) transistors.

Unless specifically stated to the contra, signals to, from, and/orbetween elements in a figure of any of the figures presented herein maybe analog or digital, continuous time or discrete time, and single-endedor differential. For instance, if a signal path is shown as asingle-ended path, it also represents a differential signal path.Similarly, if a signal path is shown as a differential path, it alsorepresents a single-ended signal path. While one or more particulararchitectures are described herein, other architectures can likewise beimplemented that use one or more data buses not expressly shown, directconnectivity between elements, and/or indirect coupling between otherelements as recognized by one of average skill in the art.

The term “module” is used in the description of one or more of theembodiments. A module implements one or more functions via a device suchas a processor or other processing device or other hardware that mayinclude or operate in association with a memory that stores operationalinstructions. A module may operate independently and/or in conjunctionwith software and/or firmware. As also used herein, a module may containone or more sub-modules, each of which may be one or more modules.

As may further be used herein, a computer readable memory includes oneor more memory elements. A memory element may be a separate memorydevice, multiple memory devices, or a set of memory locations within amemory device. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, randomaccess memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory,dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and/or any device thatstores digital information. The memory device may be in a form asolid-state memory, a hard drive memory, cloud memory, thumb drive,server memory, computing device memory, and/or other physical medium forstoring digital information.

While particular combinations of various functions and features of theone or more embodiments have been expressly described herein, othercombinations of these features and functions are likewise possible. Thepresent disclosure is not limited by the particular examples disclosedherein and expressly incorporates these other combinations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A user input passive device for interaction witha touchscreen of an interactive display device, the user input passivedevice comprises: a housing that includes: a conductive shell; anon-conductive supporting surface coupled to the conductive shell; animpedance circuit having a desired impedance at a desired frequency; afirst conductive plate mounted on the non-conductive supporting surfaceand electrically isolated from the conductive shell; and a secondconductive plate mounted on the non-conductive supporting surface andelectrically isolated from the conductive shell and from the firstconductive plate, wherein a first terminal of the impedance circuit iscoupled to the first conductive plate and a second terminal of theimpedance circuit is coupled to the second conductive plate, wherein,when the user input passive device is used with the touchscreen, aperimeter of the conductive shell is in close proximity to aninteractive surface of the touchscreen and wherein the first and secondconductive plates are in close proximity to the interactive surface ofthe touchscreen.
 2. The user input passive device of claim 1, whereinthe impedance circuit comprises: an inductor; and a capacitor coupled tothe inductor in series, wherein the series coupling of the inductor andthe capacitor resonant at the desired frequency.
 3. The user inputpassive device of claim 1, wherein the impedance circuit comprises: aninductor; and a capacitor coupled to the inductor in parallel, whereinthe parallel coupling of the inductor and the capacitor resonant at thedesired frequency.
 4. The user input passive device of claim 1, whereinthe impedance circuit comprises one or more resistors.
 5. The user inputpassive device of claim 1, wherein the impedance circuit comprises oneor more capacitors.
 6. The user input passive device of claim 1, whereinthe impedance circuit comprises one or more inductors.
 7. The user inputpassive device of claim 1 further comprises: a second impedance circuithaving the desired impedance at a second desired frequency; a thirdconductive plate mounted on the non-conductive supporting surface andelectrically isolated from the conductive shell, from the firstconductive plate, and the second conductive plate; and a fourthconductive plate mounted on the non-conductive supporting surface andelectrically isolated from the conductive shell, from the firstconductive plate, from the second conductive plate, and from the thirdconductive plate, wherein a first terminal of the second impedancecircuit is coupled to the third conductive plate and a second terminalof the second impedance circuit is coupled to the fourth conductiveplate, wherein, when the user input passive device is used with thetouchscreen, the third and fourth conductive plates are in closeproximity to the interactive surface of the touchscreen.
 8. The userinput passive device of claim 7 further comprises: the first and secondconductive plates being positioned within a first area of thenon-conductive supporting surface; and the third and fourth conductiveplates being positioned within a second area of the non-conductivesupporting surface, wherein the first and second areas provideorientation information regarding positioning of the user input passivedevice on the interactive surface of the touchscreen.
 9. The user inputpassive device of claim 7 further comprises: a third impedance circuithaving the desired impedance at a third desired frequency; a fifthconductive plate mounted on the non-conductive supporting surface andelectrically isolated from the conductive shell, from the firstconductive plate, and the second conductive plate; and a sixthconductive plate mounted on the non-conductive supporting surface andelectrically isolated from the conductive shell, from the firstconductive plate, from the second conductive plate, from the thirdconductive plate, from the fourth conductive plate, and from the fifthconductive plate, wherein a first terminal of the third impedancecircuit is coupled to the fifth conductive plate and a second terminalof the third impedance circuit is coupled to the sixth conductive plate,wherein, when the user input passive device is used with thetouchscreen, the fifth and sixth conductive plates are in in closeproximity to the interactive surface of the touchscreen.
 10. The userinput passive device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises: an outershape corresponding to at least one of: a computer mouse; a game piece;a cup; a utensil; a plate; and a coaster.
 11. A user input passivedevice for interaction with a touchscreen of an interactive displaydevice, the user input passive device comprises: a housing thatincludes: a conductive shell; a non-conductive supporting surfacecoupled to the conductive shell; a switch mechanism mounted on thehousing; an impedance circuit having a first desired impedance at adesired frequency when the switch mechanism is in a first state andhaving a second desired impedance at the desired frequency when theswitch mechanism is in a second state; a first conductive plate mountedon the non-conductive supporting surface and electrically isolated fromthe conductive shell; and a second conductive plate mounted on thenon-conductive supporting surface and electrically isolated from theconductive shell and from the first conductive plate, wherein a firstterminal of the impedance circuit is coupled to the first conductiveplate and a second terminal of the impedance circuit is coupled to thesecond conductive plate, wherein, when the user input passive device isused with the touchscreen, a perimeter of the conductive shell is inclose proximity to an interactive surface of the touchscreen and whereinthe first and second conductive plates are in close proximity to theinteractive surface of the touchscreen.
 12. The user input passivedevice of claim 11, wherein the impedance circuit comprises: aninductor; and a capacitor coupled to the inductor in series, wherein theseries coupling of the inductor and the capacitor resonant at thedesired frequency.
 13. The user input passive device of claim 11,wherein the impedance circuit comprises: an inductor; and a capacitorcoupled to the inductor in parallel, wherein the parallel coupling ofthe inductor and the capacitor resonant at the desired frequency. 14.The user input passive device of claim 11, wherein the impedance circuitcomprises one or more resistors.
 15. The user input passive device ofclaim 11, wherein the impedance circuit comprises one or morecapacitors.
 16. The user input passive device of claim 11, wherein theimpedance circuit comprises one or more inductors.
 17. The user inputpassive device of claim 11 further comprises: a second switch mechanismmounted on the housing; a second impedance circuit having a thirddesired impedance at a second desired frequency when the switchmechanism is in a third state and having a fourth desired impedance atthe second desired frequency when the second switch mechanism is in afourth state; a third conductive plate mounted on the non-conductivesupporting surface and electrically isolated from the conductive shell,from the first conductive plate, and the second conductive plate; and afourth conductive plate mounted on the non-conductive supporting surfaceand electrically isolated from the conductive shell, from the firstconductive plate, from the second conductive plate, and from the thirdconductive plate, wherein a first terminal of the second impedancecircuit is coupled to the third conductive plate and a second terminalof the second impedance circuit is coupled to the fourth conductiveplate, wherein, when the user input passive device is used with thetouchscreen, the third and fourth conductive plates are in in closeproximity to the interactive surface of the touchscreen.
 18. The userinput passive device of claim 17 further comprises: the first and secondconductive plates being positioned within a first area of thenon-conductive supporting surface; and the third and fourth conductiveplates being positioned within a second area of the non-conductivesupporting surface, wherein the first and second areas provideorientation information regarding positioning of the user input passivedevice on the interactive surface of the touchscreen.
 19. The user inputpassive device of claim 11, wherein the housing comprises: an outershape corresponding to at least one of: a computer mouse; a game piece;a cup; a utensil; a plate; and a coaster.